The bill authorizes public entities, such as sheriffs and local police departments, to contract with nonpublic K-12 schools (including private, church, parochial, and home-schooling entities) to provide school resource officers under specific conditions. It stipulates that these contracts can only be approved if school resource officer services are available to all public schools in the relevant county or municipality. Additionally, the nonpublic school must fully reimburse the public entity for all costs associated with the school resource officers, including salary and benefits. The bill also requires nonpublic schools to maintain occurrence-based liability insurance that meets or exceeds the coverage of the public entity involved.

Furthermore, the bill includes provisions that ensure the public entities retain their immunity and statutory caps on damages, and it allows off-duty law enforcement officers to contract with nonpublic schools in their personal capacity. It also permits sheriffs and police chiefs to provide security and traffic control services on nonpublic school properties. The act is set to take effect on June 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 16-1-44
Enrolled: 16-1-44