Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §22.1-280.2:1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§22.1-280.2:1. Employment of school security officers.
Local school boards and private or religious schools may
employ school security officers, as
defined in §9.1-101, for the
purposes set forth therein. Such school security officer may carry a firearm in
the performance of his duties if (i) he
is an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Armed
Forces; (ii) he is an employee of
a local school board who has completed an auxiliary training academy authorized
by the local law-enforcement agency where the local
school board presides; or (iii) within 10 years immediately prior to being hired by the
local school board or private or religious school he (a) was an active
law-enforcement officer as defined in §9.1-101 in the Commonwealth or (b) was
employed by a law-enforcement agency of the United States or any state or
political subdivision thereof and his duties were substantially similar to
those of a law-enforcement officer as defined in §9.1-101;
(ii) and
(1) if
employed by a law-enforcement agency,
he retired or resigned from his position as a law-enforcement officer in
good standing; (iii) (2) he meets the training and
qualifications described in subsection C of §18.2-308.016;
(iv) (3)
he has provided proof of completion of a training course that includes training
in active shooter emergency response, emergency evacuation procedure, and
threat assessment to the Department of Criminal Justice Services pursuant to
subdivision 42 of §9.1-102, provided that if he received such training from a
local law-enforcement agency he received the training in the locality in which
he is employed; (v) (4) the local school board or
private or religious school solicits input from the chief law-enforcement
officer of the locality regarding the qualifications of the school security
officer and receives verification from such chief law-enforcement officer that
the school security officer is not prohibited by state or federal law from
possessing, purchasing, or transporting a firearm; and
(vi) (5)
the local school board or private or religious school grants him the authority
to carry a firearm in the performance of his duties.