An Act
ENROLLED SENATE
BILL NO. 1521 By: Pemberton and Stephens of
the Senate
and
Lowe (Dick) of the House
An Act relating to schools; amending Section 1,
Chapter 281, O.S.L. 2023 (70 O.S. Supp. 2023, Section
5-148.1), which relates to the School Resou rce
Officer Program; directing certain school districts
to give first priority to hiring certain law
enforcement officers; allowing certain school
districts to employ or contract with certain officers
or security guards under certain circumstances;
directing certain law enforcement agency to provide
certain individual a radio system to be used in
performance of certain duties; allowing use of
certain fund for certain purpose; updating statutory
reference; providing an effective date; and declaring
an emergency.
SUBJECT: School resource officers
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY Section 1, Chapter 281, O.S.L.
2023 (70 O.S. Supp. 2023, Section 5 -148.1), is amended to read as
follows:
Section 5-148.1. A. The State Department of Education shall
establish and maintain a three -year pilot program known as the
School Resource Officer Program.
B. School resource officers employed or contracted by school
districts participating in the School Resource Officer Program shall
successfully complete law enforcement active shooter emergency
ENR. S. B. NO. 1521 Page 2
response training given by the Council on Law Enforcement Education
and Training (CLEET) and approved by the Oklahoma Department of
Public Safety.
C. For purposes of this section, “school resource officer”
means 1. A school district participating in the School Resource
Officer Program shall give first priority to employing or
contracting with a law enforcement officer with sworn authority and
training in school-based law enforcement and crisis response who is
assigned by an employing law enforcement agency to work
collaboratively with one or more schools using community -oriented
policing concepts.
2. If a law enforcement agency that serves the area in which a
school district is located is unwilling or unable to provide a law
enforcement officer described in paragraph 1 of this subsection, a
participating school district may employ or contract with a retired
law enforcement officer or an armed security guard who is licensed
pursuant to the Oklahoma Security Guard and Private Investigator
Act. The law enforcement agency that serves the area in which the
school district is located shall preauthorize any individual
employed or contracted with under this paragraph . The school shall
require a background check on the individual. The law enforcement
agency that serves the area in which the school district is located
shall allow an authorized individual employed or contracted with the
school district access to the prea uthorizing agency's radio system ,
pursuant to this paragraph , and a police band radio system which may
be used by the individual in the performance of his or her duties to
be paid for by the employing district . A school district may use
funds from the School Security Revolving Fund created pursuant to
Section 5-148.2 of this title to cover the cost of the radio system.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2024.
SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
ENR. S. B. NO. 1521 Page 3
Passed the Senate the 22nd day of May, 2024.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
Passed the House of Representatives the 25th day of April, 2024.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Received by the Office of the Governor this _______ _____________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _______ __
day of _________________ __, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
______________________ ___________
Governor of the State of Oklahoma
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this _______ ___
day of _________________ _, 20 _______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________