School safety and security-funding.

Plain English Breakdown

The exact amount of money remaining in the account after reimbursements is uncertain.

School Safety and Security Funding

This law creates a fund to reimburse school districts for costs related to employees possessing firearms on school property.

What This Bill Does

• Creates an account called the 'firearms on school property account' to hold money from legislative appropriations, grants, gifts, transfers, bequests, and donations.
• Provides continuous appropriation of funds in this account to reimburse school districts for costs related to employees possessing firearms on school property.
• Requires schools to apply for reimbursement within one year after spending the money.
• Authorizes the Department of Education to make rules necessary to implement the act.

Who It Names or Affects

• School districts that have employees who carry firearms on school property.
• The Wyoming Department of Education which manages the new account and rules.
• Taxpayers contributing to the state's general fund.

Terms To Know

Firearms on School Property Account

A special fund created by law to hold money for reimbursing school districts for costs related to firearms possession on school property by employees.

Continuous Appropriation

Money that is set aside and can be used indefinitely until it is spent or the account is closed.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law only covers costs related to firearms possession by school district employees, not other expenses.
• It's unclear how much money will remain in the account after initial reimbursements are made.
• School districts must follow specific rules and deadlines when applying for reimbursement.

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 24LSO-0169

Bill No.:

SF0086

Effective:

7/1/2024

LSO No.:

24LSO-0169

Enrolled Act No.:

SEA No. 0057

Chapter No.:

117

Prime Sponsor:

Kolb

Catch Title:

School safety and security-funding.

Has Report:

No

Subject:

School safety and security funding.

Summary/Major Elements:

This act creates the firearms on school property account, which includes all legislative appropriations to the account and all monies received from grants, gifts, transfers, bequests and donations.

The monies deposited into the firearms on school property account are continuously appropriated to and expended by the department of education to reimburse school districts only for the costs related to possession of firearms on school property by school district employees in accordance with the law.

This act requires school districts to apply to the department of education for reimbursement of the costs on a form prescribed by the department within one (1) years of the expenses being incurred.

This act authorizes the department of education to promulgate rules as necessary to implement this act.

This act provides an appropriation of four hundred eighty thousand dollars ($480,000.00) from the general fund to the firearms on school property account.

The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.

While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

24LSO-0169

ORIGINAL Senate

ENGROSSED
File No
.
SF0086

ENROLLED ACT NO. 57,

SENATE

SIXTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2024 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to education; creating the firearms on school property account; providing for reimbursement to school districts for costs related to possession of firearms on school property; authorizing rulemaking; providing a continuous appropriation; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 21
‑
3
‑
135 is created to read:

21
‑
3
‑
135.

Firearms on school property account.

(a)

There is created the firearms on school property account. The account shall include all legislative appropriations and all monies received from grants, gifts, transfers, bequests and donations to the account. The account is authorized to accept grants, gifts, transfers, bequests and donations. All monies received shall be deposited into the account. Notwithstanding W.S. 9
‑
2
‑
1008, 9
‑
2
‑
1012(e) or 9
‑
4
‑
207, unobligated and unexpended funds in the account shall not lapse or revert and shall remain in the account and available for distribution as provided in this section.

(b)

Monies deposited into the firearms on school property account shall be continuously appropriated to and expended by the department of education to reimburse school districts only for costs related to possession of firearms on school property by school district employees in accordance with the law. School districts shall apply to the department of education for reimbursement of the costs identified under this subsection on a form provided by the department within one (1) year of the expenses being incurred. As part of the application required under this subsection, school districts shall submit final receipts and certificates of completion for each employee's training completed in accordance with the law or documents evidencing the expenses incurred by the rules adopted by the school district. Reimbursement shall be limited to costs for which funding is not already provided by law. If there are insufficient funds to reimburse all school districts that apply for reimbursement under this section, the department of education shall prorate reimbursement among all approved school district applications in proportion to the amount of costs approved for reimbursement.

(c)

Funds in the firearms on school property account shall be invested by the state treasurer pursuant to law and the investment earnings shall be credited to the account.

Section 2.

The department of education may promulgate rules as necessary to implement this act.

Section 3.

There is appropriated four hundred eighty thousand dollars ($480,000.00) from the general fund to the firearms on school property account created in section 1 of this act. This appropriation shall not be transferred or expended for any other purpose. Notwithstanding W.S. 9
‑
2
‑
1008, 9
‑
2
‑
1012(e) and 9
‑
4
‑
207, this appropriation shall not revert. It is the intent of the legislature that this appropriation shall not be included in the department of education's standard budget for the immediately succeeding fiscal biennium.

Section 4.

This act is effective July 1, 2024.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk

1