Signed by Governor Doug Burgum

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with senate amendments and pass a bill that authorizes schools to designate an armed first responded and provide a security system plan.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a public school to propose to a superintendent of public instruction their plan to participate in an armed first responder program as approved by the school or governing board (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the superintendent of public instruction to within 90 days of being informed either approve or deny the public school’s proposal to participate in the program (Sec. 1).

• Requires a public school to document in their proposed plan the following information, including (Sec. 1):

• The identity of the individual selected by the school to participate in the program and attend the training to become the school’s armed first responder;

• A plan submitted to the superintendent specifying how the school will implement the program; and

• A comprehensive emergency operations assessment for the purpose of identifying school crisis and emergency threats and risks.

• Requires that the plan submitted to the superintendent of public instruction show the response time from law enforcement (Sec. 1).

• Requires the plan submitted to the superintendent of public instruction to be approved by local law enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that in order to become an armed first responder for a school program an individual must meet the following requirements, including, but not limited to (Sec. 1):

• Is a citizen of the United States and at least 21 years old;

• Completes a criminal background check successfully and is approved by local law enforcement agencies;

• Is a high school graduate or meets equivalency standards;

• Successfully completes a physical performed by a licensed physician or nurse and a mental evaluation by a qualified mental health provider;

• Successfully completes a faculty and administrator safety training and emergency response program; and

• Be approved by the school or governing board to carry a concealed firearm on school property and possesses a valid class 1 firearm license.

• Requires an individual seeking to become an armed first responder complete a minimum 10 hours of instruction and skills evaluation (Sec. 1).

• Requires that a firearm carried by an armed first responder on school premises remain concealed and under the direct control of the certified first responder or stored in a lockbox accessible only by the first responder (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes a school or governing board to withdraw a school from participation in the program at anytime (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that a first responder shall be exempt from any civil or criminal liability for an act or omission of the first responder who acted in good faith while providing protection to a student or school unless the first responder’s conduct results in gross negligence (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass an amended bill that authorizes schools to designate an armed first responded and provide a security system plan.

Highlights:

• Authorizes a public school to propose to a superintendent of public instruction their plan to participate in an armed first responder program as approved by the school or governing board (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the superintendent of public instruction to within 90 days of being informed either approve or deny the public school’s proposal to participate in the program (Sec. 1).

• Requires a public school to document in their proposed plan the following information, including (Sec. 1):

• The identity of the individual selected by the school to participate in the program and attend the training to become the school’s armed first responder;

• A plan submitted to the superintendent specifying how the school will implement the program; and

• A comprehensive emergency operations assessment for the purpose of identifying school crisis and emergency threats and risks.

• Requires that the plan submitted to the superintendent of public instruction show the response time from law enforcement (Sec. 1).

• Requires the plan submitted to the superintendent of public instruction to be approved by local law enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that in order to become an armed first responder for a school program an individual must meet the following requirements, including, but not limited to (Sec. 1):

• Is a citizen of the United States and at least 21 years old;

• Completes a criminal background check successfully and is approved by local law enforcement agencies;

• Is a high school graduate or meets equivalency standards;

• Successfully completes a physical performed by a licensed physician or nurse and a mental evaluation by a qualified mental health provider;

• Successfully completes a faculty and administrator safety training and emergency response program; and

• Be approved by the school or governing board to carry a concealed firearm on school property and possesses a valid class 1 firearm license.

• Requires an individual seeking to become an armed first responder complete a minimum 10 hours of instruction and skills evaluation (Sec. 1).

• Requires that a firearm carried by an armed first responder on school premises remain concealed and under the direct control of the certified first responder or stored in a lockbox accessible only by the first responder (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes a school or governing board to withdraw a school from participation in the program at anytime (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that a first responder shall be exempt from any civil or criminal liability for an act or omission of the first responder who acted in good faith while providing protection to a student or school unless the first responder’s conduct results in gross negligence (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text