The bill, H.B. No. 1458, amends Section 37.0814(b) of the Education Code to expand the qualifications for armed security officers required to be present at public schools. The current law specifies that a security officer must be either a school district peace officer or a school resource officer. The proposed changes remove the option of a school resource officer and introduce additional categories of qualified personnel, including commissioned peace officers employed as security personnel, reserve deputy sheriffs appointed under local government code, and honorably retired peace officers who maintain their commission and meet specific requirements.

The new legal language adds two categories of security personnel: reserve deputy sheriffs and honorably retired peace officers, while deleting the option for school resource officers. This change aims to enhance the security framework in public schools by allowing a broader range of qualified individuals to serve as armed security officers. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 37.0814 (Education Code 37)