Signed by Governor Dennis Daugaard

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes school boards to train and arm school employees, hired security personnel, or volunteers.

Highlights:

• Authorizes school boards to create, establish, and supervise the arming of school employees, hired security personnel, or volunteers, referred to as “school sentinels” (Sec. 1).

• Requires a school sentinel to first successfully complete a school sentinel training course as defined by the Law Enforcement Officers Standards Commission (Sec. 3).

• Requires the school board to obtain the approval the law enforcement official who has jurisdiction over the school premises before implementing the school sentinel program or making any changes to the personnel or protocols of the school sentinel program (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits the school board from requiring an employee to act as a school sentinel without the employee’s voluntary consent (Sec. 4).

• Prohibits a cause of action against the board, the school district, or any of its employees for the failure or refusal of a school board to implement a school sentinel program (Sec. 6).

• Requires a referendum to decide on school sentinel programs if a petition signed by at least 5 percent of the qualified voters in the school district is submitted (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes school boards to train and arm school employees, hired security personnel, or volunteers.

Highlights:

• Authorizes school boards to create, establish, and supervise the arming of school employees, hired security personnel, or volunteers, referred to as “school sentinels” (Sec. 1).

• Requires a school sentinel to first successfully complete a school sentinel training course as defined by the Law Enforcement Officers Standards Commission (Sec. 3).

• Requires the school board to obtain the approval the law enforcement official who has jurisdiction over the school premises before implementing the school sentinel program or making any changes to the personnel or protocols of the school sentinel program (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits the school board from requiring an employee to act as a school sentinel without the employee’s voluntary consent (Sec. 4).

• Prohibits a cause of action against the board, the school district, or any of its employees for the failure or refusal of a school board to implement a school sentinel program (Sec. 6).

• Requires a referendum to decide on school sentinel programs if a petition signed by at least 5 percent of the qualified voters in the school district is submitted (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes school boards to train and arm school employees, hired security personnel, or volunteers.

Highlights:

• Authorizes school boards to create, establish, and supervise the arming of school employees, hired security personnel, or volunteers, referred to as “school sentinels” (Sec. 1). 

• Requires any school sentinel to first successfully complete a school sentinel training course as defined by the Law Enforcement Officers Standards Commission  (Sec. 3).

• Requires the school board to obtain the approval of the law enforcement official who has jurisdiction over the school premises before implementing any school sentinel program or making any changes to the personnel or protocols of the school sentinel program (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits the school board from requiring any teacher or school employee to act as a school sentinel, or to punish any teacher who refuses to act as a school sentinel (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text