House Bill 24-1310

Second Regular Session

Seventy-fourth General Assembly

STATE OF COLORADO

INTRODUCED

LLS NO. 24-0179.02 Conrad Imel x2313

HOUSE BILL 24-1310

House Committees Senate Committees

Education

A BILL FOR AN ACT

ONCERNING MEASURES TO IMPROVE SCHOOL SAFETY, AND, IN101

CONNECTION THEREWITH, ESTABLISHING QUALIFICATIONS FOR102

SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICERS AND REGULATING FIREARM103

STORAGE ON SCHOOL GROUNDS.104

Bill Summary

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does

not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill

passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that

applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at

http://leg.colorado.gov

The bill permits a school district, charter school, or board of

cooperative services (local education provider) to employ or retain by

contract a person as a school security officer only if:

HOUSE SPONSORSHIP

Parenti and Hamrick,

SENATE SPONSORSHIP

(None),

Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.

Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.

Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.

! The local education provider has a policy that governs

security officers' engagement with students;

! The person completes school security officer or school

resource officer training; and

! The person undergoes a background check and a

psychological evaluation.

The bill permits a school security officer to carry a handgun on

school property if the school security officer holds a valid permit to carry

a concealed handgun; completes firearms training, including ongoing

in-service training; and passed the peace officer standards and training

board's firearms skills test or an equivalent firearms skills test.

Existing law prohibits carrying, bringing, or possessing a deadly

weapon on school property and includes exceptions to the prohibition,

including for the purpose of a school employee carrying out necessary

duties and functions that require the use of a deadly weapon. The bill

repeals the exception for a school employee carrying out the employee's

duties and expressly permits a school security officer to carry a handgun

on school grounds, as described above.

The bill prohibits a school or law enforcement agency from storing

firearms on the grounds of a public or private elementary, middle, junior

high, or high school.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1

SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly2

finds and declares that:3

(a) Acts of school and workplace violence, whether accidental or4

intentional, threaten life, safety, and security;5

(b) The safety and security of students and staff in our schools is6

of utmost importance to the entire state; and7

reduce the risk of injury or death by firearms in our schools.9

(2) Therefore, the general assembly finds it necessary to establish10

minimum qualifications for school security officers and requirements for11

school security officers to carry firearms on school grounds.12

SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 22-1-144 as13

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follows:1

22-1-144. School security officers - qualifications - authority2

to possess a handgun on school grounds - definitions. (1) A

S USED IN3

THIS SECTION, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES:4

(a) "L

ICENSED OR AUTHORIZED PERSON" MEANS A PERSON WHO5

HOLDS A VALID TEACHER LICENSE, SPECIAL SERVICES LICENSE, PRINCIPAL6

LICENSE, ADMINISTRATOR LICENSE, OR AUTHORIZATION ISSUED PURSUANT7

TO ARTICLE 60.5 OF THIS TITLE 22.8

(b) "L

OCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER" MEANS A SCHOOL DISTRICT, A9

CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZED BY A SCHOOL DISTRICT PURSUANT TO PART10

OF ARTICLE 30.5 OF THIS TITLE 22, A CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZED BY11

THE STATE CHARTER SCHOOL INSTITUTE PURSUANT TO PART 5 OF ARTICLE12

30.5

OF THIS TITLE 22, OR A BOARD OF COOPERATIVE SERVICES CREATED13

AND OPERATING PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 5 OF THIS TITLE 22 THAT14

OPERATES ONE OR MORE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.15

BOARD" MEANS THE PEACE OFFICERS STANDARDS16

AND TRAINING BOARD CREATED IN SECTION 24-31-302.17

(d) (I) "S

CHOOL SECURITY OFFICER" MEANS A PERSON WHO IS18

EMPLOYED OR RETAINED BY CONTRACT BY A LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER19

PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION (2) OF THIS SECTION AND WHOSE PRIMARY20

DUTIES DIRECTLY INVOLVE THE PROTECTION OF STUDENTS, OTHER21

PERSONS, AND SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.22

(II) "S

CHOOL SECURITY OFFICER" DOES NOT INCLUDE:23

(A) A

LICENSED OR AUTHORIZED PERSON WHO, AS PART OF THE24

PERSON'S EMPLOYMENT OR CONTRACT WITH A LOCAL EDUCATION25

PROVIDER, PERFORMS DUTIES WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE PERSON'S LICENSE26

OR AUTHORIZATION;27

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(B) A PERSON WHO IS NOT A LICENSED OR AUTHORIZED PERSON,1

WHO IS EMPLOYED OR RETAINED BY CONTRACT BY A DISTRICT CHARTER2

SCHOOL OR INSTITUTE CHARTER SCHOOL TO PERFORM DUTIES FOR WHICH3

THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE SCHOOL TO HIRE OR RETAIN LICENSED OR4

AUTHORIZED PERSONS IS WAIVED PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-30.5-104 (6)5

OR 22-30.5-507 (7); OR6

SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER, AS DEFINED IN SECTION7

22-32-109.1.8

(2) A

LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER MAY EMPLOY OR RETAIN BY9

CONTRACT A PERSON AS A SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICER ONLY IF:10

(a) T

HE LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER HAS A POLICY FOR SCHOOL11

SECURITY OFFICERS THAT GOVERNS WHEN AND HOW A SCHOOL SECURITY12

OFFICER ENGAGES WITH STUDENTS;13

(b) T

HE PERSON EMPLOYED OR RETAINED AS A SCHOOL SECURITY14

OFFICER HAS:15

(I) C

OMPLETED A SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICER TRAINING COURSE,16

OR AN EQUIVALENT COURSE, PROVIDED OR CERTIFIED BY A NATIONAL17

ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS THAT REQUIRES AT LEAST18

TWENTY-FOUR HOURS OF INSTRUCTION AND INCLUDES INSTRUCTION ON19

COMMUNICATING WITH YOUTH, IDENTIFYING AND RESPONDING TO20

BEHAVIORAL AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND DE-ESCALATION21

STRATEGIES; OR22

(II) C

OMPLETED SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER TRAINING THAT23

SATISFIES THE CURRICULUM IDENTIFIED BY THE PEACE OFFICER24

STANDARDS AND TRAINING BOARD PURSUANT TO SECTION 24-31-312;25

F THE PERSON IS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR26

CHARTER SCHOOL; THE PERSON HAS SUBMITTED TO A BACKGROUND27

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INVESTIGATION AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 22-30.5-110.5, 22-30.5-511.5,1

OR 22-32-109.8, AS APPLICABLE; AND NOTWITHSTANDING SECTION2

22-30.5-110.7

(5) OR 22-32-109.8 (5), AS APPLICABLE, THE SCHOOL3

DISTRICT OR CHARTER SCHOOL HAS RECEIVED FAVORABLE RESULTS OF THE4

PERSON'S BACKGROUND CHECK; OR5

(II) I

F THE PERSON IS RETAINED BY CONTRACT BY A SCHOOL6

DISTRICT, THE CONTRACT COMPLIES WITH THE BACKGROUND CHECK7

REQUIREMENTS IN SECTION 22-32-122 (4); OR IF THE PERSON IS RETAINED8

BY CONTRACT BY A CHARTER SCHOOL, THE CONTRACT REQUIRES A9

BACKGROUND CHECK OF THE PERSON THAT SATISFIES THE REQUIREMENTS10

IN SECTION 22-32-122 (4); AND THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CHARTER11

SCHOOL HAS RECEIVED FAVORABLE RESULTS OF THE PERSON'S12

BACKGROUND CHECK; AND13

(d) W

ITHIN SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE DATE OF EMPLOYMENT OR14

BEING RETAINED BY CONTRACT AS A SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICER, THE15

PERSON HAS UNDERGONE A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION PERFORMED BY16

EITHER A COLORADO-LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST OR A COLORADO-LICENSED17

PSYCHIATRIST.18

(3) A

SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICER MAY ONLY POSSESS A HANDGUN,19

AS DEFINED IN SECTION 18-12-101, WHILE ON DUTY IN OR ON THE REAL20

ESTATE AND ALL IMPROVEMENTS ERECTED THEREON OF ANY PUBLIC21

ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, JUNIOR HIGH, OR HIGH SCHOOL OPERATED BY THE22

LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER IF THE SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICER:23

(a) H

OLDS A VALID PERMIT TO CARRY A CONCEALED HANDGUN24

ISSUED PURSUANT TO PART 2 OF ARTICLE 12 OF TITLE 18;25

(b) H

AS COMPLETED A MINIMUM OF TWENTY-FOUR HOURS OF26

INITIAL FIREARMS TRAINING WITHIN TWELVE MONTHS BEFORE STARTING27

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WORK AS A SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICER THAT INCLUDES:1

(I) A

T LEAST FOUR HOURS OF CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION THAT2

INCLUDES INSTRUCTION ON FIREARMS SAFETY, USE OF DEADLY FORCE,3

LEGAL PRINCIPLES RELATED TO FIREARM USE, AND WEAPONS RETENTION4

IN A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT;5

(II) A

T LEAST TEN HOURS OF LIVE FIRE RANGE TRAINING EXERCISES6

THAT INCLUDE ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING CONCEPTS; AND7

(III) A

T LEAST SIX HOURS OF SCHOOL ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING,8

WHICH MAY INCLUDE CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION AND SIMULATED9

TRAINING;10

NNUALLY COMPLETES A MINIMUM OF SIXTEEN HOURS OF11

ANNUAL IN-SERVICE TRAINING THAT INCLUDES:12

(I) A

T LEAST EIGHT HOURS OF LIVE FIRE RANGE TRAINING13

EXERCISES THAT INCLUDE ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING CONCEPTS; AND14

(II) A

T LEAST EIGHT HOURS OF SCHOOL ACTIVE SHOOTER TRAINING15

THAT INCLUDES CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION AND SIMULATED TRAINING;16

AND17

(d) P

ASSED THE P.O.S.T. BOARD'S FIREARMS SKILLS TEST OR AN18

EQUIVALENT FIREARMS SKILLS TEST ADMINISTERED BY A P.O.S.T.19

BOARD-CERTIFIED FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR AT THE COMPLETION OF INITIAL20

TRAINING DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (3)(b) OF THIS SECTION AND AT THE21

COMPLETION OF IN-SERVICE TRAINING DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (3)(c) OF22

THIS SECTION. THIS SUBSECTION (3)(d) DOES NOT REQUIRE A SCHOOL23

SECURITY OFFICER TO BE CERTIFIED BY THE P.O.S.T. BOARD.24

SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 22-2-117, amend25

(1.5) as follows:26

22-2-117. Additional power - state board - waiver of27

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requirements - rules. (1.5) Notwithstanding any provision of this1

section or any other provision of law, the state board shall not waive2

requirements contained in article 11 of this title

TITLE 22 or sections3

22-1-144, 22-7-1006.3, 22-32-105, 22-32-109 (1)(bb)(I) and (2),4

22-32-109.1 (2)(a), 22-32-146, and 22-33-104 (4).5

SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 18-12-101, add6

(1)(g.8) as follows:7

18-12-101. Peace officer affirmative defense - definitions.8

(1) As used in this article 12, unless the context otherwise requires:9

(g.8) "S

CHOOL SECURITY OFFICER" MEANS A PERSON WHO IS10

EMPLOYED OR RETAINED BY CONTRACT AS A SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICER11

BY A LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDER PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-1-144.12

SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 18-12-105.5, amend13

(1)(a) and (3) introductory portion; and add (3)(e.5) and (4) as follows:14

18-12-105.5. Unlawfully carrying a weapon - unlawful15

possession of weapons - school, college, or university grounds.16

(1) (a) A person shall not knowingly and unlawfully and without legal17

authority carry, bring, or have in the person's possession a deadly weapon18

as defined in section 18-1-901 (3)(e) in or on the real estate and all19

improvements erected thereon of any public or private elementary,20

middle, junior high, high, or vocational school or any public or private21

college, university, or seminary, except for the purpose of:22

(I) Presenting an authorized public demonstration or exhibition23

pursuant to instruction in conjunction with an organized school or class;24

for the purpose of carrying out the necessary duties and functions of an

employee of an educational institution that require the use of a deadly

weapon, or for the purpose of

OR27

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(II) Participation in an authorized extracurricular activity or on an1

athletic team.2

(3) It shall not be

IS NOT an offense under PURSUANT TO3

SUBSECTION (1) OF this section if:4

(e.5) T

HE PERSON IS A SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICER AND CARRYING5

OUT THE DUTIES OF A SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICER; IF THE DEADLY WEAPON6

IS A HANDGUN; AND THE PERSON SATISFIES THE REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH7

IN SECTION 22-1-144 (3); OR8

(4) (a) N

OTWITHSTANDING ANY AUTHORITY GRANTED IN THIS9

SECTION TO THE CONTRARY, A SCHOOL, LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, OR10

ANY OTHER ENTITY SHALL NOT STORE FIREARMS IN OR ON THE REAL11

ESTATE AND ALL IMPROVEMENTS ERECTED THEREON OF A PUBLIC OR12

PRIVATE ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE, JUNIOR HIGH, OR HIGH SCHOOL.13

(b) T

HIS SUBSECTION (4) DOES NOT APPLY TO THE STORAGE OF A14

FIREARM:15

(I) F

OR USE IN AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM APPROVED BY A16

SCHOOL WHICH INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, A HUNTER EDUCATION17

COURSE OFFERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 22-1-134 OR A COURSE DESIGNED18

FOR THE REPAIR OR MAINTENANCE OF WEAPONS;19

(II) B

Y A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT20

OFFICER'S VEHICLE THAT IS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS, IN CONFORMANCE WITH21

THE POLICY OF THE OFFICER'S EMPLOYING AGENCY; AND22

(III) B

Y A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, INCLUDING A SCHOOL23

RESOURCE OFFICER, WHILE THE OFFICER IS PRESENT ON SCHOOL GROUNDS,24

IN A LOCKED GUN SAFE THAT IS IN A LOCKED ROOM OR CLOSET, AND THE25

GUN SAFE AND ROOM OR CLOSET ARE ONLY ACCESSIBLE TO THE OFFICER.26

SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 18-12-214, amend27

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(3)(b) as follows:1

18-12-214. Authority granted by permit - carrying restrictions2

- local authority. (3) A permit issued pursuant to this part 2 does not3

authorize a person to carry a concealed handgun onto the real property,4

or into any improvements erected thereon, of a public elementary, middle,5

junior high, or high school; except that:6

(b) I

F THE PERMITTEE SATISFIES THE REQUIREMENTS SET FORTH IN7

SECTION 22-1-144 (3), a permittee who is employed or retained by8

contract by a school district or charter school as

a school security officer9

may carry a concealed handgun onto the real property, or into any10

improvement erected thereon, of a public elementary, middle, junior high,11

or high school while the permittee is on duty;12

SECTION 7. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act13

takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the14

ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except15

that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V16

of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this17

act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take18

effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in19

November 2024 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the20

official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.21

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