Delaware 2023 2023-2024 Regular Session

Delaware Senate Bill SB224 Draft / Bill

                    SPONSOR:      Sen. Pettyjohn           DELAWARE STATE SENATE   152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY       SENATE SUBSTITUTE NO. 1   FOR   SENATE BILL NO. 224       AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO POSSESSION OF A FIREARM IN A SAFE SCHOOL ZONE.      

     

     SPONSOR:      Sen. Pettyjohn     

SPONSOR: Sen. Pettyjohn

 SPONSOR:  

 Sen. Pettyjohn 

   

 DELAWARE STATE SENATE 

 152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY 

   

 SENATE SUBSTITUTE NO. 1 

 FOR 

 SENATE BILL NO. 224 

   

 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO POSSESSION OF A FIREARM IN A SAFE SCHOOL ZONE. 

   

      BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:        Section 1. Amend 1457A, Title 11 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:      1457A. Possession of a firearm in a Safe School Zone; class E felony.     (a) As used in this section:     (5) Safe School Zone means all of the following:     a. Any building, structure, athletic field, sports  stadium   stadium,  or real property owned, operated,  leased   leased,  or rented by any public or private school including any  kindergarten   kindergarte n, elementary, secondary, or vocational-technical school.     (b) Any person who knowingly possesses a firearm while in  or on  a Safe School Zone shall be guilty of the crime of possession of a firearm in a Safe School Zone.     (c) Subsection (b) of this section  shall   does  not apply to any of the following:    (2) A constable employed by a school or school district who is acting in an official capacity  within  in  a Safe School Zone.   (3) An active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces or Delaware National Guard who is acting in an official capacity  within  in  a Safe School Zone.     (4) A holder of a valid license to carry concealed deadly weapons under 1441  of this title,  but only if the firearm is in a  motor  vehicle.     (5)  Employees   An employee  of the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families who  ar e  is acting in an official capacity in a Safe School Zone and who is  authorized by the Secretary of the Department to carry a firearm while acting in the employees official capacity.    (6)  Probation  A probation  and parole  officers   officer who is  acting  within the officers   in an  official capacity  in a Safe School Zone .   (7) A qualified retired law-enforcement officer who is employed or contracted by a school or school district to assist with security or investigations and who is acting in an official capacity  within   in  a Safe School Zone.    (8) An employee of a private school who is a holder of a valid license to carry concealed deadly weapons under 1441 of this title and who is designated by the employees private school employer to provide security on the premises and who is in possession of a firearm on the employees private school employers premises.    (d) Subsection (b) of this section does not apply  to the possession of a firearm  in any of the following circumstances:   (1) On private property not part of school grounds.   (2) A firearm in a locked container or locked firearms rack that is in or on a motor vehicle.   (3) When engaged in lawful hunting, firearm instruction, or firearm-related sports on public lands, other than those belonging to a public or private   school.   (f)  In the event that   If  an elementary or secondary school student possesses a firearm in a Safe School Zone, in addition to any other penalties contained in this section, the student shall be expelled by the local school board or charter school board of directors for a period of not less than 180 days unless otherwise provided for in federal or state law. The local school board or charter school board of directors may, on a case-by-case basis, modify the terms of the expulsion to less than 180 days.       

   

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

   

  Section 1. Amend 1457A, Title 11 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:  

   1457A. Possession of a firearm in a Safe School Zone; class E felony.  

  (a) As used in this section:  

  (5) Safe School Zone means all of the following:  

  a. Any building, structure, athletic field, sports  stadium   stadium,  or real property owned, operated,  leased   leased,  or rented by any public or private school including any  kindergarten   kindergarte n, elementary, secondary, or vocational-technical school.  

  (b) Any person who knowingly possesses a firearm while in  or on  a Safe School Zone shall be guilty of the crime of possession of a firearm in a Safe School Zone.  

  (c) Subsection (b) of this section  shall   does  not apply to any of the following:  

 (2) A constable employed by a school or school district who is acting in an official capacity  within  in  a Safe School Zone. 

 (3) An active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces or Delaware National Guard who is acting in an official capacity  within  in  a Safe School Zone.  

  (4) A holder of a valid license to carry concealed deadly weapons under 1441  of this title,  but only if the firearm is in a  motor  vehicle.  

  (5)  Employees   An employee  of the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families who  ar e  is acting in an official capacity in a Safe School Zone and who is  authorized by the Secretary of the Department to carry a firearm while acting in the employees official capacity.  

 (6)  Probation  A probation  and parole  officers   officer who is  acting  within the officers   in an  official capacity  in a Safe School Zone . 

 (7) A qualified retired law-enforcement officer who is employed or contracted by a school or school district to assist with security or investigations and who is acting in an official capacity  within   in  a Safe School Zone. 

  (8) An employee of a private school who is a holder of a valid license to carry concealed deadly weapons under 1441 of this title and who is designated by the employees private school employer to provide security on the premises and who is in possession of a firearm on the employees private school employers premises.  

 (d) Subsection (b) of this section does not apply  to the possession of a firearm  in any of the following circumstances: 

 (1) On private property not part of school grounds. 

 (2) A firearm in a locked container or locked firearms rack that is in or on a motor vehicle. 

 (3) When engaged in lawful hunting, firearm instruction, or firearm-related sports on public lands, other than those belonging to a public or private   school. 

 (f)  In the event that   If  an elementary or secondary school student possesses a firearm in a Safe School Zone, in addition to any other penalties contained in this section, the student shall be expelled by the local school board or charter school board of directors for a period of not less than 180 days unless otherwise provided for in federal or state law. The local school board or charter school board of directors may, on a case-by-case basis, modify the terms of the expulsion to less than 180 days.  

   

      SYNOPSIS   This Act exempts an employee of a private school from the Safe School Zone law if the employee is designated by the employees private school employer to provide security for the school and the employee holds a Delaware concealed carry permit.       This Act also makes technical corrections to conform to existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.   Author: Senator Pettyjohn  

   

 SYNOPSIS 

 This Act exempts an employee of a private school from the Safe School Zone law if the employee is designated by the employees private school employer to provide security for the school and the employee holds a Delaware concealed carry permit.  

  

 This Act also makes technical corrections to conform to existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual. 

 Author: Senator Pettyjohn