It’s important to understand the options for complying with the requirement in House Bill (HB) 3 of the 88th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature for having an armed security officer at each campus during regular school hours.
Before hiring or posting safety personnel vacancies, districts must consider what types of officers will meet the requirements and what steps must be taken to ensure implementation of HB 3 by September 1, 2023. Each board of trustees must determine the appropriate number of armed security officers for each district campus.
Options for safety personnel staffing are explained below.
While school districts have a variety of options for employing security personnel, only three options will meet the HB3 requirement of having an armed security officer present at each school campus during regular school hours, absent a good cause exception.
School district peace officer. A school peace officer is a district employee who is licensed by the Texas Commission of Law Enforcement (TCOLE) and commissioned by the district. This option is only available if the district has established or creates its own police department.
School district officers are required to complete school safety courses for law enforcement per Texas Education Code (TEC) § 37.205 and active shooter response training required by TEC § 37.0812.
School resource officer. A school resource officer (SRO) is a commissioned peace officer employed by a local...
When a company promises to save the planet by 2050, it sounds reassuring. But what if that promise comes with no real plan, no credible evidence, and no accountability? A sweeping new study reveal...