bill requires a new license for school security guards

The text as introduced · 789 words

89R1113 JCG-D

By: Dorazio
H.B. No. 1064

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the provision of private security services at a public

primary or secondary school; requiring an occupational license.

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

SECTION 1. Section 37.081(a), Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) The board of trustees of any school district may:

(1) employ or contract with security personnel;

(2) enter into a memorandum of understanding with a

local law enforcement agency or a county or municipality that is the

employing political subdivision of commissioned peace officers for

the provision of school resource officers;

(3) for the purposes of providing security personnel,

contract with a security services contractor licensed under Chapter

1702, Occupations Code, for the provision of a school security

officer licensed under Subchapter I-1, Chapter 1702, Occupations

Code [ commissioned security officer, as defined by Section

1702.002, Occupations Code, who has completed the Level II or III

training course required by the Department of Public Safety ]; and

(4) commission peace officers to carry out this

subchapter.

SECTION 2. Section 37.0814(d), Education Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(d) The board of trustees of a school district that claims a

good cause exception under Subsection (c) must develop an

alternative standard with which the district is able to comply,

which may include providing a person to act as a security officer

who is:

(1) a school security officer licensed under

Subchapter I-1, Chapter 1702, Occupations Code;

(2) a school marshal; or

(3) [ (2) ] a school district employee [ or a person with

whom the district contracts ] who:

(A) has completed school safety training

provided by a qualified handgun instructor certified in school

safety under Section 411.1901, Government Code; and

(B) carries a handgun on school premises in

accordance with written regulations or written authorization of the

district under Section 46.03(a)(1)(A), Penal Code.

SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 96, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 96.42 to read as follows:

Sec. 96.42. CERTAIN REQUIRED TRAINING PROVIDED BY ADVANCED

LAW ENFORCEMENT RAPID RESPONSE TRAINING CENTER. The Advanced Law

Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center at Texas State

University--San Marcos shall permit a person who applies for a

school security officer license under Section 1702.213,

Occupations Code, to enroll in the Solo Officer Rapid Deployment

and the Level I training courses offered by the center, or in a

substantially similar course offered by the center, in the same

manner as the center permits a peace officer to enroll in the

course.

SECTION 4. Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, is amended by

adding Subchapter I-1 to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER I-1. SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICER

Sec. 1702.211. SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICER LICENSE REQUIRED.

An individual may not act as a school security officer unless the

individual holds a school security officer license.

Sec. 1702.212. SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICER. An individual acts

as a school security officer if the individual is employed by or

contracted through a company licensed under this chapter to provide

services described by Section 1702.202 or 1702.222 on the premises

of a public primary or secondary school.

Sec. 1702.213. APPLICATION; LICENSE QUALIFICATIONS. (a)

An applicant for a school security officer license must submit a

written application on a form prescribed by the commission.

(b) An applicant for a school security officer license must

provide proof that the applicant:

(1) has been issued a security officer commission or a

personal protection officer license;

(2) is employed at the time of application by a

security services contractor licensed by the department; and

(3) has completed:

(A) the training course described by Section

96.42, Education Code;

(B) the training required for a school district

peace officer or a school resource officer under Section 1701.263;

and

(C) the training described by Section 1702.214.

Sec. 1702.214. SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICER TRAINING. The

commission shall establish the minimum curriculum requirements for

a school-based security response course and establish minimum

qualifications for instructors to provide the training.

Sec. 1702.215. CONTINUING EDUCATION; RENEWAL. The

commission shall establish minimum continuing education

requirements for a school security officer license. The

requirements must include the training content and frequency

required for a school district peace officer or school resource

officer under Section 37.0812(a), Education Code.

Sec. 1702.216. ENROLLMENT IN TRAINING COURSE REQUIRED. The

provider of a training course required for the issuance or renewal

of a school security officer license shall permit a person to enroll

in the course if the person has applied for the issuance or renewal

of the license.

SECTION 5. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this

section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

(b) Section 1702.211, Occupations Code, as added by this

Act, takes effect September 1, 2026.