MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2018 Regular Session
To: Education
By: Representative Horan
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-7-321, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR AND ESTABLISH THE MINIMUM LEVEL OF TRAINING REQUIRED OF INDIVIDUALS EMPLOYED BY LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO SERVE AS SECURITY GUARDS OR SCHOOL RESOURCES OFFICERS; 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.
(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 * * *
of forty (40) hours of * * * specialized law enforcement
training, as jointly determined and prescribed by the Board on Law Enforcement
Officer Standards and Training and the State Board of Education, * * *
including, but not limited to:
(a) Child adolescent development;
(b) Cultural competence and building relationships with students;
(c) De-escalating violent situation;
(d) Identifying the social, emotional and mental needs of the students;
(e) Directing you to appropriate services rather than the use of force; and
(f) Due process protection of students.
within two (2) years of the person's initial employment in such
These conditions must be satisfied before the person may begin acting in an
official capacity, interacting with student, or being placed in any school
district where he or she is working in such a 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.
(4) If a law enforcement officer is duly appointed to be a peace officer by a school district under this section, the local school board may enter into an interlocal agreement with other law enforcement entities for the provision of equipment or traffic control duties, however, the duty to enforce traffic regulations and to enforce the laws of the state or municipality off of school property lies with the local police or sheriff's department which cannot withhold its services solely because of the lack of such an agreement.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2018.