Senate Bill 2146

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-7-321, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, RELATING TO SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER QUALIFICATIONS TO REQUIRE THAT ALL SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS COMPLETE UNIFORM STATEWIDE TRAINING PRIOR TO BEING PERMITTED TO SERVE IN A SCHOOL; 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 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, * * * prior to the person acting in his or her official capacity, interacting with students, or being placed in any school district where he or she is working in such a position. This basic training shall also include a minimum of forty (40) hours of specialized training developed by the Mississippi Department of Education focused on child adolescent development, cultural competence and building relationships with students; deescalating violent situations; identifying the social, emotional, and mental needs of the students; directing youth to appropriate services rather than using force; and due process protections for students. Training required under this subsection (2) shall be paid from Mississippi Community Oriented Policing Services in Schools (MCOPS) grant funds as provided in Section 37-3-82(2)(c). 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, 2020.