HB 24-1310

House Bill 24-1310, also known as School Safety Measures, allows schools in Colorado to hire security officers who have completed specific training and background checks. These officers can carry a handgun on school grounds if they hold the necessary permits and pass additional firearms tests. The bill removes an existing exception that allowed other school employees to carry weapons for work purposes but now explicitly permits armed security officers under these new conditions. Signed into law, this means schools can implement these safety measures immediately according to the outlined requirements.

Official Summary

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: 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.

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