Bill Summary for H 595 (2013-2014)

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Summary date: 

Apr 8 2013

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2013-2014 Session
House Bill 595 (Public) Filed Monday, April 8, 2013
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE SHERIFF AND THE CHIEF OF POLICE TO ESTABLISH A VOLUNTEER SCHOOL SAFETY RESOURCE OFFICER PROGRAM, TO COORDINATE THE PLACEMENT OF VOLUNTEER SCHOOL SAFETY RESOURCE OFFICERS ON EDUCATIONAL PROPERTY AS REQUESTED BY THE LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND TO PROVIDE THAT VOLUNTEER SCHOOL SAFETY RESOURCE OFFICERS MAY CARRY HANDGUNS ON EDUCATIONAL PROPERTY WHILE ON OFFICIAL DUTY.
Intro. by Arp, Horn, Faircloth, Johnson.

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Bill summary

Declares this act to be known as the Gold Star Officer Program Act. Amends GS 115C-47 adding a newsubdivision (61)to include among the designated powers and duties of local boards of education the authority to enter into an agreement with the (1) sheriff, (2) chief of police of a local police department, or (3) chief of police of a county police department to provide security at the schools by assigning volunteer school safety resource officers who meet the selection standards and criteria developed by the head of the appropriate local law enforcement agency and the criteria set out in proposed GS 162-25 or GS 160A-288.4 as appropriate.

Amends GS 14-269.2 (Weapons on campus or other educational property) to define a volunteer school safety resource officer as a person who volunteers as a school safety resource officer as provided in proposed GS 162-25 or GS 160A-288.4. Further amends GS 14-269.2 to provide that this statute, which sets out criminal penalties for possessing or carrying a weapon openly or concealed on a campus or other educational property, and for causing, encouraging, or aiding a minor to do so, does not apply to a volunteer school safety resource officer providing security at a school under an agreement as provided in GS 115C-47and either GS 162-25 or GS 160A-288.4.

Amends GS 160A-282(c) to provide that this subsection, which entitles persons deputized by the county sheriff as special deputy sheriffs or who are serving as volunteer lawenforcement officers at the request of the sheriff to benefits under the NC Workers' Compensation Actand any other appropriate fringe benefits, does not apply to volunteer school safety resource officers as described in GS 162-25.

Enacts new GS 162-25, authorizing the sheriff to establish a volunteer school safety resource program, and new GS 160A-288.4, authorizing the chief of a local police department or of a county police department to establish a volunteer school safety resource officer program. Requires a person serving as a volunteer school safetyresource officer to have prior experience (1) as a sworn law enforcement officer or (2) as a military police officer with a minimum of two years' service. Requires that a program volunteer also meet any additional criteria and selection standards established by the sheriff or the police chief.

Specifies additional criteria and standards that must be met regarding the volunteer's updating or renewal oflaw enforcement training and certification of the volunteer's meeting of educational and firearms proficiency standards.

Provides immunity from liabilityand prohibits any cause of action arising against a volunteer school safety resource officer, the sheriff or police chief, any employees of the sheriff or police chief supervising a volunteer, or the public school system and its employeesfor any good faith action taken in the performance of their duties with regard to a volunteer school safety resource officer program established under either GS 162-25 or GS 160A-288.4.

Effective December 1, 2013.