New Missouri Laws Give School Districts More Options for Armed Personnel on Campus

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Missouri school districts now have additional options for placing specially trained armed personnel inside schools under two new laws taking effect Friday.

One law establishes a new Missouri Rangers training program designed to prepare school-based personnel to respond to emergencies and violent incidents. Participation is optional, meaning individual school districts will decide whether to use the program.

The Missouri Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission is tasked with developing the Rangers program, which may include as many as 160 hours of instruction.

Training can include active-shooter response, firearms, close-quarters combat, de-escalation, behavioral threat assessment, building security, defensive tactics and first aid. Applicants must also pass a criminal background check and meet physical fitness requirements.

Missouri Rangers must work for the school or district where they serve, either as paid employees or volunteers.

Their law-enforcement authority will generally be limited to school property, school buses and certain offenses involving weapons or school facilities. Local districts will also determine whether Rangers can carry firearms and whether those weapons must be concealed.

A second law expands Missouri's existing school protection officer program.

Previously focused largely on teachers and administrators, the law now allows any employee of a public school district or charter school to request designation as a school protection officer.

Employees authorized to carry a firearm must have a valid concealed-carry permit and complete state-approved training.

Before a district can establish a school protection officer program, the school board must hold a public hearing and vote on the proposal. Districts are responsible for any additional compensation because the state law does not provide funding for the positions.

The changes do not automatically place armed personnel inside St. Joseph schools. Any decision to use the programs locally would require action by the St. Joseph School District.

The legislation comes as school safety remains a major concern for families and districts across Missouri.

Source: KQ2/KMIZ.Read the original report