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2021 SESSION

21100258D
SENATE BILL NO. 1238
Offered January 13, 2021
Prefiled January 11, 2021
A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-280.2:1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to employment of school security officers; United States Armed Forces veterans; employees of local school boards.
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Patron-- Chase
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Referred to Committee on Education and Health
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 22.1-280.2:1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 22.1-280.2:1. Employment of school security officers.

Local school boards and private or religious schools may employ school security officers, as defined in § 9.1-101, for the purposes set forth therein. Such school security officer may carry a firearm in the performance of his duties if (i) he is an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Armed Forces; (ii) he is an employee of a local school board who has completed an auxiliary training academy authorized by the local law-enforcement agency where the local school board presides; or (iii) within 10 years immediately prior to being hired by the local school board or private or religious school he (a) was an active law-enforcement officer as defined in § 9.1-101 in the Commonwealth or (b) was employed by a law-enforcement agency of the United States or any state or political subdivision thereof and his duties were substantially similar to those of a law-enforcement officer as defined in § 9.1-101; (ii) and (1) if employed by a law-enforcement agency, he retired or resigned from his position as a law-enforcement officer in good standing; (iii) (2) he meets the training and qualifications described in subsection C of § 18.2-308.016; (iv) (3) he has provided proof of completion of a training course that includes training in active shooter emergency response, emergency evacuation procedure, and threat assessment to the Department of Criminal Justice Services pursuant to subdivision 42 of § 9.1-102, provided that if he received such training from a local law-enforcement agency he received the training in the locality in which he is employed; (v) (4) the local school board or private or religious school solicits input from the chief law-enforcement officer of the locality regarding the qualifications of the school security officer and receives verification from such chief law-enforcement officer that the school security officer is not prohibited by state or federal law from possessing, purchasing, or transporting a firearm; and (vi) (5) the local school board or private or religious school grants him the authority to carry a firearm in the performance of his duties.