88R3958 DIO-D
	By: Patterson	H.B. No. 1177

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to a school security volunteer program.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 37, Education Code, is
	amended by adding Section 37.0816 to read as follows:
	Sec. 37.0816.  SCHOOL SECURITY VOLUNTEER PROGRAM. (a) In
	this section:
	(1)  "Honorably retired" has the meaning assigned by
	Section 411.199(c), Government Code.
	(2)  "Qualified retired law enforcement officer" means
	a person who:
	(A)  meets the qualifications provided by 18
	U.S.C. Section 926C(c); and
	(B)  is honorably retired.
	(3)  "Veteran" has the meaning assigned by Section
	521.1235, Transportation Code.
	(b)  The board of trustees of a school district or the
	governing body of an open-enrollment charter school may approve a
	program under which the district or school provides written
	regulations or written authorization for eligible persons to serve
	as school security volunteers by:
	(1)  providing security services for the district or
	school on school grounds, including any location in which an
	activity sponsored by the district or school is being conducted,
	and in school vehicles; and
	(2)  carrying a handgun in providing the security
	services under Subdivision (1).
	(c)  A person is eligible to serve as a school security
	volunteer for a program approved under this section only if:
	(1)  the person is not:
	(A)  an employee of the district or school;
	(B)  a contractor providing services under a
	contract with the district or school; or
	(C)  a person who otherwise receives compensation
	or remuneration from the district or school;
	(2)  the person is:
	(A)  a qualified retired law enforcement officer;
	or
	(B)  a veteran; and
	(3)  the board of trustees or governing body determines
	the person is eligible based on the results of a criminal background
	check conducted on the person using criminal history record
	information obtained by the district or school in accordance with
	Section 22.0835.
	(d)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school
	that approves a program under this section must include the program
	in the district's or school's multihazard emergency operations plan
	required under Section 37.108.
	(e)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school
	that approves a program under this section must provide to each
	school security volunteer a course of instruction on the safety and
	security policies of the district or school and must include
	instruction about the district's or school's multihazard emergency
	operations plan adopted under Section 37.108.
	(f)  A school security volunteer is immune from civil
	liability to the same extent as a professional employee of a school
	district under Section 22.0511. This subsection does not limit the
	liability of a person for intentional misconduct or gross
	negligence.
	(g)  While providing volunteer security services under
	Subsection (b), a school security volunteer may not wear a uniform
	or badge that:
	(1)  contains the word "security"; or
	(2)  gives the person the appearance of being a peace
	officer, personal protection officer, or security officer.
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter N, Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, is
	amended by adding Section 1702.334 to read as follows:
	Sec. 1702.334.  SCHOOL SECURITY VOLUNTEERS. This chapter
	does not apply to a person who serves as a school security volunteer
	for a school district or open-enrollment charter school under a
	program adopted under Section 37.0816, Education Code.
	SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies
	beginning with the 2023-2024 school year.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2023.