(KTEN) — A school safety bill squeaked through the Texas Legislature just before the regular session ended.

House Bill 3 allocates a record $327 million to help bolster school safety across the state, including providing salaries for armed school defense personnel.

One of the key requirements of the legislation: Every campus must have an armed employee on site.

That person could be a school resource officer, a school marshal, or a district employee — such as a teacher who has gone through extensive training.

Sherman Independent School District Police Department Chief Heath Wester praises the move as a step forward for security.

"There's a need for officers on every campus," he said. "It's a deterrent — basically just saying the police officer in the car in the parking lot, the visibility — but also being there, being able to respond more quickly to emergencies."

Wester noted that Sherman ISD already deploys school resource officers on campuses.

House Bill 3 also creates a school safety department within the Texas Education Agency to oversee the implementation of security protocols.

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