Image Credit: capitol.tn.gov
The Tennessee Conservative [By Rebecca Scott] –
The Tennessee House Finance, Ways, and Means Committee has recommended a bill for passage that would allow Tennessee public and charter schools to hire retired law enforcement and military personnel as on-campus security in School Resource Officer positions.
House Bill 1899 (HB1899), sponsored by Representative Tim Rudd (R-Murfreesboro-District 34), in summary reads, “As introduced, authorizes LEAs and public charter schools to employ retired law enforcement officers who are retired from a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency and honorably discharged veterans of the United States armed forces to serve as school resource officers on school premises. – Amends TCA Title 8; Title 37; Title 38; Title 49 and Title 62.”
The Tennessee Conservative has previously reported that some districts have been forced to provide officers with hours of overtime to patrol schools, indicating that there were potentially not enough officers available to hire them for those positions full-time.
If signed into law, HB1899 and its companion bill, Senate Bill 2025 (SB2025), would allow schools to select school resource officers from a pool of retired officers.
It would also leave school systems like Metro Nashville no excuse as to why they have yet to put officers in some of their schools where it has been reported that there is a reluctance to place SROs in elementary school settings.
According to Representative Rudd, the bill is essential because there are approximately 500 reports of SRO shortages in the state. Passage of the legislation would open additional pathways for larger school districts to be better able to place an SRO in each school.
According to the proposed legislation, individuals would be required by law to complete 40 hours of training, undergo both state and federal background checks, and be evaluated by a psychologist or mental health professional.
At that point, the local sheriff’s office would have to authorize them to carry a gun on school grounds.
Rebecca Scott is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Rebecca at Rebecca@tennesseeconservativenews.com