House Bill 1275

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-7-321, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE SCHOOL SECURITY PERSONNEL TO RECEIVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF HOURS OF CONTINUING EDUCATION EACH YEAR; TO AMEND SECTION 37-3-93, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE A SCHOOL CRISIS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM RESPONSE TEAM TO OPERATE EMERGENCY RESPONSE VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN CERTAIN AREAS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 37-7-321, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-7-321. (1) The school board of any school district within the State of Mississippi, in its discretion, may employ one or more persons as security personnel and may designate such persons as peace officers in or on any property operated for school purposes by such board upon their taking such oath and making such bond as required of a constable of the county in which the school district is situated. The security personnel or officer shall receive a minimum of forty (40) hours of continuing education each year that is sponsored or approved by the State Department of Education.

(2) Any person employed by a school board as a security guard or school resource officer or in any other position that has the powers of a peace officer must receive a minimum level of basic law enforcement training, as jointly determined and prescribed by the Board on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Training and the State Board of Education, within two (2) years of the person's initial employment in such position. Upon the failure of any person employed in such position to receive the required training within the designated time, the person may not exercise the powers of a peace officer in or on the property of the school district.

(3) The school board is authorized and empowered, in its discretion, and subject to the approval of the Federal Communications Commission, to install and operate a noncommercial radio broadcasting and transmission station for educational and vocational educational purposes.

SECTION 2. Section 37-3-93, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

37-3-93. (1) Subject to the availability of funding specifically appropriated for such purpose, there is established a School Crisis Management Program under the State Department of Education. This program is to be initiated and executed by the department using only existing staff and resources. Under this program, the State Department of Education shall create an office making available a quick response team of personnel trained in school safety and crisis management to respond to traumatic or violent situations that impact students and faculty in the public schools in Mississippi. The School Crisis Management Program shall operate in accordance with the following:

(a) The basic response team shall consist of those personnel designated by the State Superintendent of Public Education, or their designees, depending on the size of the school and the nature of the event.

(b) In order to access the services of a response team, the request must be made by the local school principal or the superintendent of schools, who shall make the request to the State Department of Education or its contact designee.

(c) A response team shall enter a school to work with students and faculty for a period of no more than three (3) days, unless otherwise requested by the school district.

(d) The State Department of Education, or its designee, shall operate a toll-free incoming wide area telephone service for the purpose of receiving reports of suspected cases of school violence and other traumatic situations impacting on students and faculty in the public schools.

(e) The request made by a school district to access the services of a response team following a school safety incident may seek a review of the local school district's safety plan, and the results of this evaluation may be published by the local school board in a newspaper with wide circulation in the district.

(f) Subject to the availability of funds specifically appropriated therefor by the Legislature, the expenses of the quick response teams and their administrative support shall be provided from state funds. The State Department of Education may apply for and expend funds for the support and maintenance of this program from private and other funding sources.

(g) The response team may operate emergency response vehicles and equipment to provide technical assistance in the areas of emergency operations, physical security, law enforcement, behavioral science services and education administration.

(2) Local school districts, school superintendents and principals may request and utilize the services of quick response teams provided for under this section; however, this section does not require school officials to request the services of quick response teams.

(3) This section shall be repealed on July 1, 2007.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2004.