School security officers would face training and firearm rules

The Department of Criminal Justice Services would set minimum job, entry-level, ongoing training, and certification standards for school security officers. The standards would cover school security officers employed by local school boards, private schools, and religious schools, including officers described in the firearm provision. The Virginia Center for School and Campus Safety would administer the training and certification. The standards would address laws, liability, school security, conflict resolution, emergency response, bias, work with students who need additional support, and student behavior. The Department would use an advisory committee made up of school board representatives, principals, superintendents, and school security personnel. An officer who carries a firearm would have to show proof of the required active-shooter, evacuation, and threat-assessment training.

A local school board, private school, or religious school could authorize a qualifying school security officer to carry a firearm while performing assigned duties. The officer would need recent law-enforcement experience, good standing at retirement or resignation, required firearm qualifications, and the required school-security training. The officer must have been an active law-enforcement officer in Virginia or employed by a qualifying federal, state, or local law-enforcement agency within the 10 years before being hired. The officer must have retired or resigned in good standing and meet the training and qualifications in § 18.2-308.016. The officer must provide training proof to the Department of Criminal Justice Services. The school must seek input from the local chief law-enforcement officer and receive confirmation that the officer may legally possess, buy, or transport a firearm. The law-enforcement experience must have occurred within the 10 years immediately before the officer was hired.