Senate Bill No. 1374 aims to enhance the training requirements for public school security personnel employed by local and regional boards of education. The bill repeals the existing Section 7-294x and introduces new provisions that expand the training curriculum for armed security personnel to include critical components such as use of force, recognition of armed individuals, active assailant response, and techniques for interacting with individuals with special needs. Additionally, the bill allows for training to be conducted by instructors approved by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council (POST) and selected by the school boards, either at the Connecticut Police Academy or other designated locations.

The legislation retains the existing training requirements for unarmed security personnel, which include drug detection and gang identification, while also permitting local and regional boards of education to provide additional training as needed. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, and is expected to incur costs for the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, as well as potential minimal costs for local school districts that opt to offer supplementary training. Overall, the bill seeks to improve the preparedness and effectiveness of school security personnel in responding to various safety challenges.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 7-294x
PS Joint Favorable Substitute: 7-294x
File No. 432: 7-294x