HF 2586 (LSB 6276HV (6) 90)

RELATING TO SCHOOL SECURITY, INCLUDING THE USE OF SCHOOL  SECURITY PERSONNEL BY SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND AUTHORIZING  SCHOOL EMPLOYEES TO BE ISSUED PROFESSIONAL PERMITS TO CARRY  WEAPONS, AND INCLUDING EFFECTIVE DATE PROVISIONS. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  279.84  School security.
   1.  For purposes of this section:
   a.  “Private school security officer” means an individual employed by a private security business who possesses a permit to carry weapons issued under section 724.6.

   b.  “Private security business” means the same as defined in section 80A.1.
   c.  “School resource officer” means any of the following:
   (1)  A peace officer as defined in section 801.4.
   (2)  A reserve peace officer as defined in section 80D.1A.
   2.  The board of directors of each school district with a total enrollment of at least eight thousand students shall employ, or retain the services of, at least one private school security officer or school resource officer to guard each attendance center where students enrolled in grade nine, grade ten, grade eleven, or grade twelve regularly attend classes, unless a majority of the members of the board of directors of the school district vote to not employ or retain a private school security officer or a school resource officer. A private school security officer employed or retained by the board of directors of a school district pursuant to this subsection shall be required to participate in the annual live scenario training and quarterly live firearms training provided by the department of public safety pursuant to section 724.6, subsection 1, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (3).
   3.  The board of directors of each school district with a total enrollment of less than eight thousand students is encouraged to employ, or retain the services of, at least one private school security officer or school resource officer to guard each attendance center where students enrolled in grade nine, grade ten, grade eleven, or grade twelve regularly attend classes. A private school security officer employed or retained by the board of directors of a school district pursuant to this subsection shall be required to participate in the annual live scenario training and quarterly live firearms training provided by the department of public safety pursuant to section 724.6, subsection 1, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (3).
    Sec. 2.  Section 724.6, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code 2024, is amended by adding the following new subparagraph:
   NEW SUBPARAGRAPH.  (3)  A person may be issued a permit to carry weapons if the person is a school employee of a school district, a private school, or an institution of higher education as defined in section 722.11. The person shall complete a prescribed firearm safety training course offered pursuant to section 724.9, subsection 1, prior to being issued a permit, and not be disqualified under section 724.8. A person issued a permit to carry weapons under this subparagraph shall receive one-time, in-person legal training, including training on qualified immunity, annual emergency medical training, and annual communication training that is approved by the department of public safety. The department of public safety shall implement required annual live scenario training and quarterly live firearm training for school employees of a school district, a private school, or an institution of higher education that has opted into participating in the professional permitting of school employees. A school employee issued a professional permit to carry by the department of public safety who is up to date with department of public safety-approved training, and the school district that employs the school employee, shall be entitled to qualified immunity from criminal or civil liability for all damages incurred pursuant to the application of reasonable force at the place of employment. The identity of a person who has been issued a permit pursuant to this subparagraph shall be confidential and shall not be a public record subject to disclosure under chapter 22.
    Sec. 3.  Section 724.6, subsection 2, Code 2024, is amended to read as follows:
   2.  Notwithstanding subsection 1, fire fighters, as defined in section 411.1, subsection 10, airport fire fighters included under section 97B.49B, school employees, and emergency medical care providers other than emergency medical care providers specified in subsection 1, paragraph “a”, subparagraph (2), shall not, as a condition of employment, be required to obtain a permit under this section. However, the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to a person designated as an arson investigator by the chief fire officer of a political subdivision.
    Sec. 4.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  The following, being deemed of immediate importance, take effect upon enactment:
   1.  The section of this Act amending section 724.6, subsection 1, paragraph “a”.

   2.  The section of this Act amending section 724.6, subsection 2.

______________________________
PAT GRASSLEY
Speaker of the House

______________________________
AMY SINCLAIR
President of the Senate

   I hereby certify that this bill originated in the House and is known as House File 2586, Ninetieth General Assembly.

______________________________
MEGHAN NELSON
Chief Clerk of the House

Approved _______________, 2024

______________________________
KIM REYNOLDS
Governor