Wyoming would repay districts for officers serving schools, as funding allows

The education department would repay districts for eligible officer costs. Only the cost of certified officers employed by law enforcement agencies to serve districts under agreements would count. Lawmakers must provide funding. If approved costs statewide exceed that funding, each district's payment would be reduced in proportion to its share of those costs. The department would pay by October 15 each year for costs from the immediately preceding school year.

Districts would report their eligible officer costs, and the education department would review the reports. Each school district would report any eligible costs for officers serving its schools. Districts would document costs using the department's accounting rules. The department could audit or correct reports. Reports would be due by August 15 each year for the immediately preceding school year.

Lawmakers would set aside $6 million for payments to districts. The money would come from the public school foundation program account and go to the education department for officer payments. The money could be used only for these payments. Unused, uncommitted money would return under state law. Doubling the amount in the following two-year budget is stated only as lawmakers' intention. The proposal would take effect July 1, 2027, and this set-aside would cover July 1, 2027, through June 30, 2028.