Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that appropriates funds for school districts to hire school resource officers for the 2013-2014 school year.

Highlights:

• Appropriates $2.3 million from the School Foundation Program account to the Wyoming Department of Education to fund the hiring of school resource officers for the 2013-2014 school year (Secs. 1 & 2).

• Authorizes a school district to apply to the department for financial assistance for the hiring of school resource officers on or before July 1, 2013 (Sec. 1). 

• Requires the financial assistance amount to be based upon prior school year attendance reports (Sec. 1). 

• Requires the department to document the following information during the application review process (Sec. 1):
• The school district's safety and security plan;
• The assurance that the school district would limit financial assistance expenditures to cover only the costs of employing school resource officers; and 
• A report of any federal funds available to the school district for the costs of employing school resource officers.

• Requires the Governor to appoint a task force to develop guidelines and protocols for the safety and security of students and staff within school buildings (Sec. 3).

• Requires the task force to be comprised of certain individuals including, but not limited to, local fire and law enforcement individuals, school district personnel, and Department of Education employees (Sec. 3).

• Requires the task force to provide common standards of school safety and security plans including, but not limited to, the following (Sec. 3):
• The protocols for maintaining control of building access during school hours;
• The methods for informing teachers of student risk behaviors; and
• Training programs for staff on “positive and proactive” actions necessary to address students displaying “hazardous” behavior.

• Requires the task force to make recommendations for use by the department in conducting workshops and “other programs” during the 2013-2014 school year (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text