ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fourth Legislature Second Regular Session

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HB 2275: school safety; school resource officers

Sponsor:  Representative Hernandez A, LD 3

Committee on Public Safety

Overview

Authorizes school resource officers (SROs) and juvenile probation officers (JPOs) to respond to suspected crime and requires SROs and JPOs who serve on school grounds to complete required training. Appropriates monies to the Arizona Department of Education to cover the costs of the trainings.

History

Established within the Arizona Department of Education (ADE), the School Safety Program is tasked with supporting, promoting and enhancing safe and effective learning environments for all students by supporting the costs of placing SROs, JPOs, school counselors and school social workers (A.R.S. § 15-154).

Current law provides that SROs are authorized to respond to situations that present the imminent danger of bodily harm in accordance with the protocols established by their law enforcement agency (A.R.S. § 15-105).

Provisions

1. Authorizes SROs and JPOs to respond to any suspected crime involving the following:

a) a serious offense involving the death or serious physical harm to a person or property;

b) involves a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument; and

c) any conduct that poses a threat of death or serious physical injury to employees, students or anyone on the property of the school. (Sec. 1)

2. Mandates all SROs and JPOs who serves on school grounds to complete a basic SRO course and an adolescent mental health training administered by a national association of SROs by January 1, 2021. (Sec. 3)

3. Requires a memorandum of understanding or agreement between a school district or charter school and a law enforcement agency, when hiring an SRO or JPO, to include the following:

a) Allows the SRO or JPO to focus on building positive relationships with students, school staff and the community;

b) SROs and JPOs are not responsible for student discipline unless authorized to respond; and

c) SROs and JPOs complete the required trainings. (Sec. 3)

4. Prohibits, beginning January 1, 2021, a school district or charter school from allowing an SRO or JPO on campus if the SRO or JPO has not completed the required trainings. (Sec. 3)

5. Directs each school district and charter school to report to ADE, by September 1 of each year the following:

a) the number of SROs and JPOs per school within a school district or per charter school; and

b) the agencies of each SRO or JPO. (Sec. 3)

6. Appropriates $173,250 from the state General Fund (GF) in FY 2021 to ADE to distribute to school districts and charter schools to cover the costs of the basic SRO training course for SROs and JPOs. (Sec. 4)

7. Appropriates $68,250 from the GF in FY 2021 to ADE to distribute to school districts and charter schools to cover the costs of the adolescent mental health training for SROs and JPOs. (Sec. 4)

8. Exempts the appropriations from lapsing. (Sec. 4)

9. Defines juvenile probation officer. (Sec. 2)

10. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1)

11. Makes conforming changes. (Sec. 2)

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15. Initials ES              Public Safety

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