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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESFifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session |
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HB 2754: school safety; school resource officers
Sponsor: Representative Hernandez A., LD 3
Committee on Education
Overview
Modifies the situations to which school resource officers (SROs) are authorized to respond. Requires SROs to complete two required trainings by January 1, 2022. Appropriates a total of $241,500 to cover the costs of the required trainings.
Statute permits a school to use restraint or seclusion techniques on a pupil if the pupil’s behavior presents an imminent danger of bodily harm or if less restrictive interventions do not reduce the threat. A school may choose to summon law enforcement rather than use these techniques. Statute also authorizes SROs to respond to situations that present the imminent danger of bodily harm according to protocols established by the SRO's law enforcement agency (A.R.S. § 15-105).
Statute defines an SRO as a peace officer or a full-authority reserve police officer who is certified by the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board (A.R.S. § 15-154). A dangerous instrument is anything that is readily capable of causing death or serious physical injury and deadly weapon is anything designed for lethal use, including a firearm. Serious physical injury includes physical injury that creates a reasonable risk of death, disfigurement or impairment of health (A.R.S. § 13-105).
The School Safety Program (Program), established within the Arizona Department of Education (ADE), supports, promotes, and enhances safe and effective learning environments for all students by supporting the costs of placing SROs, juvenile probation officers (JPOs), school counselors and school social workers on school campuses. Schools may apply to participate in the Program for up to three fiscal years (A.R.S. § 15-154).
Provisions
1. Requires a memorandum of understanding or other agreement, to hire an SRO or JPO, between a school district or charter school (schools) and a law enforcement agency to provide that the:
a) SRO or JPO focus on building positive relationships with pupils, school staff and the community;
b) SRO is not responsible for pupil discipline unless authorized to respond; and
c) SRO complete the required trainings. (Sec. 2)
2. Mandates that SROs who serve on school grounds must complete, by January 1, 2022, the following training courses administered by a national association of SROs:
a) A basic SRO course; and
b) An adolescent mental health training. (Sec. 2)
3. Prohibits schools from allowing an SRO on campus if the SRO has not completed the required trainings by January 1, 2022. (Sec. 2)
4. Specifies that SROs may respond to any suspected crime that:
a) Is against a person or property that is a serious offense;
b) Involves a deadly weapon, dangerous instrument or serious physical injury; and
c) Involves any conduct that poses a threat of death or serious physical injury to employees, students or anyone on school property. (Sec. 1)
5. Directs schools, by September 1 annually, to report to ADE the number of SROs or JPOs per school and the agencies of each SRO or JPO. (Sec. 2)
6. Appropriates the following amounts from the state General Fund in FY 2022 to ADE to distribute to schools to cover the costs of the required trainings:
a) $173,250 for basic school officer training courses; and
b) $68,250 for adolescent mental health training courses. (Sec. 3)
7. Exempts the appropriations from lapsing. (Sec. 3)
8. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1)
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HB 2754
Initials CH/AN Page 0 Education
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