LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A bill meant to bolster school safety by allowing Kentucky school districts to hire retired law enforcement officers or military veterans to work as armed guardians is on it's way to Gov. Andy Beshear.
In the last few minutes of session on Thursday, March 28, the Kentucky Senate passed Senate Bill 2.
The school safety bill would allow local school boards to hire and assign guardians at schools. Their hiring would be optional for local boards. Districts could employ as many guardians as administrators deem necessary. The guardian program would begin in the 2025-26 school year if the bill becomes law.
Around half of Kentucky school buildings are without an a school resource officer, despite a state law that requires one. In an effort to offset the problem, lawmakers passed the bill.
Guardians could fill the void at schools lacking armed school resource officers — typically members of local law enforcement agencies — or they could serve alongside SROs.
Guardians would undergo the first tier of SRO training, check off a list of requirements, and undergo physical and psychological screenings.
Those eligible to serve as guardians would include honorably discharged military veterans, retired state troopers, retired law enforcement officers and former federal agents.
Jefferson County Public Schools parent Whitney Wilson feels anything that can be done to keep schools and students safe, is a positive.
"If they’re there to protect kids, yes, I believe they should be allowed in there," Wilson said.
Naomi Council is an aunt to school-aged children and disagrees with the idea of having armed guards in schools. She worries it would take away from other de-escalation tactics to keep students safe.
“As far as them being armed, I feel like that should be a no go. But as far as them being able to secure the building, that should be fine," said Council.
The bill also includes mental health measures. It would increase suicide prevention awareness and training for teachers and students and expand the scope of student support.
It would foster a team approach among school psychologists, social workers, school resource officers and mental health providers. At one point, lawmakers planned to include faith-based counselors, also known as pastoral counselors, to the team, but that did not make it into the version headed to Beshear.
Related Stories:
- KY Fraternal Order of Police feels 'guardian' school safety bill needs improvement
- Kentucky Senate passes bill to allow local districts to hire armed 'guardians' in schools
