The proposed "School Marshal Act" establishes a framework for the employment and training of school marshals within New Mexico public schools. It defines a school marshal as a retired or former law enforcement officer who has been certified and commissioned for at least three years and left law enforcement in good standing. The act mandates that school marshals must undergo training approved by the New Mexico law enforcement academy and be certified by the law enforcement certification board. Additionally, school marshals are permitted to carry concealed firearms on school premises, contingent upon the approval of the local school board and the public school insurance authority. The act also outlines the qualifications, duties, and responsibilities of school marshals, including the requirement to act only in situations that threaten serious bodily injury or death.

Furthermore, the act requires local school boards to develop policies regarding the possession, carrying, and storage of firearms by school marshals, as well as to notify relevant authorities about the employment of school marshals. It also includes provisions for the training curriculum that covers various aspects of school safety, crisis intervention, and legal responsibilities. The act amends existing laws to clarify the definitions of school security personnel and their training requirements, while also specifying that school marshals are not entitled to retirement benefits from educational retirement systems. The effective date for the provisions of this act is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 22-10A-40, 30-7-2.1