To allow for public and private schools in West Virginia to employ security personnel.

Added language permitting air rifles and rimfire rifles on school grounds for shooting teams to the extent permitted by law

Replaced the original text that created a School Safety Unit within the Division of Protective Services with new provisions allowing schools to directly employ school safety officers, contract with private security firms, or contract with independent contractors known as 'West Virginia Guardians'.

Added new definitions for 'West Virginia Guardian' (retired law enforcement officers), 'independent contractor,' 'contract,' and 'public safety or security' to support the new program categories.

Established specific requirements for school safety officers including background checks, training courses, certification by the Division of Protective Services, and annual training with county sheriffs' departments.

Created a new permit system for 'West Virginia Guardians' requiring application to the county sheriff, payment of a $50 fee, and establishment of a guardian program fund to cover permit costs.

Added insurance requirements mandating that schools and county boards maintain liability, property loss, and personal injury insurance coverage for students and personnel when employing or contracting school safety officers.

Added exclusions from state benefit programs including public employee insurance, workers' compensation, and retirement benefits for independent contractors and private security employees serving as school safety officers.

Modified eligibility criteria to include three distinct pathways: direct employment by schools, contracting through private security firms, and the new West Virginia Guardian program for retired law enforcement officers.

Added explicit clarification that school safety officers, private security employees, and West Virginia Guardians are not law enforcement officers and have no arrest authority, limiting their powers to detention for breach of peace.

Modified exemptions to §61-7-11a to explicitly include school safety officers, private security guard employees, and West Virginia Guardians as authorized to carry firearms on school grounds.

Changed the committee action language from moving to amend by striking out and inserting new text to substituting a new title and adding new sections, indicating a complete rewrite rather than incremental amendment.

Removed redundant committee substitute headers and formatting artifacts that cluttered the original text, making the bill easier to read and reference.

Added specific training curriculum requirements for school safety officers including de-escalation techniques, working with students with disabilities, and mental health awareness.

Established the West Virginia Guardian Program (§18-5-54) allowing counties to contract with retired law enforcement officers as independent contractors for school security.

Added insurance requirements for schools employing school safety officers, including liability, property loss, and personal injury coverage.

Created new section §18-5-53 to define contracting with private security firms as school safety officers, establishing clear requirements for private security guard firms.

Clarified that school safety officers must meet specific law enforcement experience requirements and maintain LEOSA certification to carry firearms on school grounds.

Added explicit provisions clarifying that school safety officers are not law enforcement officers and have no arrest authority, only detention powers for breach of peace situations.

Created a guardian program fund for the West Virginia Guardian Program where permit fees are deposited and used for permit-related costs.

Added a new section creating the West Virginia Guardian Program allowing county boards to contract with retired law enforcement officers for school security services.

Added detailed definitions for West Virginia Guardian, independent contractor, and various types of retired law enforcement personnel.

Added permit application requirements, training course requirements, and background check requirements for West Virginia Guardians.

Added a $50 permit fee for West Virginia Guardians and created a guardian program fund administered by the county sheriff.

Added retired law enforcement officers to the list of individuals who may carry firearms on school grounds under the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act.

Corrected several legal citations, added new delegate names to the bill sponsors, and updated the bill description to reflect the new program.

The document structure changed from an Enrolled Version format to a Committee Substitute format, with updated header information and navigation elements, but the actual legislative text and policy provisions remain unchanged.

Added a new section (§18-5-53) allowing county boards, public charter schools, and private or religious schools to contract with private security guard firms licensed under §30-18-1 to provide school safety officer services.

Added a new provision to §61-7-11a permitting air rifles and rimfire rifles on school grounds for shooting teams to the extent permitted by law.

Added specific requirements for private security guard firm employees to carry weapons, including concealed carry permit, training courses, fitness examinations, and background checks.

Added insurance coverage requirements for schools contracting with private security guard firms.

Added miscellaneous provisions clarifying that county boards are not subject to purchasing requirements and that no employer-employee relationship is created.

Added new eligibility criteria for private security guard employees including US citizenship, high school diploma, concealed carry permit, and specific training requirements.

Added definitions for 'contract', 'county board', 'school safety officer', and 'security guard firm' in the new section.

Changed the bill's description from adding two new sections (§18-5-52 and §18-5-53) to adding three new sections (§18-5-52, §18-5-53, and §18-5-54).

Added exclusions from participation for private security guard employees with drug use history or disqualifying criminal offenses including domestic violence, DUI, child abuse, and drug offenses.

Changed the effective date from '90 days from passage (July 11, 2025)' to 'In effect 90 days from passage' without specifying the exact date.

Added a new section (§18-5-53) creating the West Virginia Guardian Program, allowing county boards to contract with retired law enforcement officers as independent contractors to provide security on school grounds.

Established permit requirements for West Virginia Guardians, including a $50 application fee, background checks, training courses, and certification by county sheriffs.

Added requirement for school safety officers to train annually with local county sheriffs' departments.

Specified eligibility criteria for West Virginia Guardians, requiring retirement from state trooper, deputy sheriff, municipal police, natural resources police, state fire marshal, or federal law enforcement positions.

Added exclusion criteria preventing participation for those with recent drug use, domestic violence convictions, child abuse convictions, drug offenses, or other disqualifying criminal offenses.

Changed terminology from 'school security officer' to 'school safety officer' and added new definitions for West Virginia Guardian and related terms.

Added liability provisions clarifying that school safety officer liability falls with the county board of education, regardless of third-party contracting.

Created a guardian program fund administered by county sheriffs to cover permit issuance costs, with surplus funds available for other law enforcement purposes.

Added provisions clarifying that West Virginia Guardians are not eligible for state employee benefits and that the program does not create an employer-employee relationship.

Added explicit clarification that West Virginia Guardians are not law enforcement and have no arrest authority, though they may carry weapons when meeting all requirements.