School safety: armed school resource officers.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill text does not provide specific details on reimbursement, only that it would be made pursuant to statutory provisions noted above if determined by the Commission on State Mandates.

School Safety: Armed School Resource Officers

This law requires rural school districts and charter schools to hire or contract with at least one armed school resource officer starting in the 2028-29 school year.

What This Bill Does

• Requires rural school districts and charter schools to have at least one armed school resource officer (ASRO) present during regular school hours and when students are on campus.
• Specifies that ASROs must be authorized to carry a loaded firearm.
• Phases in the requirement by grade levels over time.
• Allows governing boards or bodies to claim an exception if they cannot find qualified personnel or funding.

Who It Names or Affects

• Rural school districts
• Charter schools

Terms To Know

Armed School Resource Officer (ASRO)

A police officer who is authorized to carry a loaded firearm and works in a rural school district or charter school.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify the exact number of ASROs required for each school.
• It is unclear how schools will find qualified personnel if they cannot meet the requirements.

Official Summary Text

AB 68, as amended, Gallagher.
School safety: armed school resource officers.
Existing law authorizes the governing board of a school district to establish a security department under the supervision of a chief of security as designated by, and under the direction of, the superintendent of the school district. Existing law also authorizes the governing board of a school district to establish a school police department under the supervision of a school chief of police and to employ peace officers.
This bill would
require
require, commencing with the 2028–29 school year, and each school year thereafter,
a
rural
school district or charter
school to hire or contract with at least one
school, as defined, to determine the appropriate number of
armed school resource
officer,
officers,
as defined, authorized to carry a loaded firearm
to be
for each school of the rural school district or charter school. The bill would require the governing board of the school district or the governing body of the charter school to ensure that at least one
armed school resource officer is
present
at each school of the school district or charter school
during regular school hours
and any other time when pupils are present on campus, phased in by certain grade spans,
at each school of the rural school district or charter school that meets specified criteria,
as provided. By imposing an additional requirement on school districts and charter schools, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The bill would authorize the governing board or body, if it is unable to comply with these requirements due to the unavailability of funding or personnel who qualify to serve as an armed school resource officer, to claim a good cause exception to these requirements by adopting a resolution, as provided.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide
that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF