AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

School personnel are currently provided with little or no training in how to respond to an active shooter situation, and the curriculum required to receive a concealed handgun license (CHL) does not cover an appropriate response to an active shooter.  S.B. 1857 creates a school safety certification for CHL instructors to train school personnel in basic defensive tactics to better equip them to protect their classrooms in dangerous situations.

 

This approach will utilize an infrastructure that is already in place, with over 3,000 CHL instructors statewide.  If approved by the school, the training may take place on campus to increase familiarity with each teacher's unique environment.  This training can better prepare the employee for an active shooter scenario whether they are carrying a weapon or not.

 

As proposed, S.B. 1857 amends current law relating to the training of certain qualified handgun instructors to conduct school safety training.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas in SECTION 1 (Section 411.1901, Government Code) of this bill.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, by adding Section 411.1901, as follows:

 

Sec. 411.1901.  SCHOOL SAFETY CERTIFICATION.  (a)  Requires the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas (DPS) to establish and maintain a school safety certification for qualified handgun instructors.  Requires that the certification be used to instruct a person who holds a concealed handgun license and who is an employee of a school district or an open-enrollment charter school in best practices in the protection of students, how to interact with the first responders on their arrival, tactics to deny an intruder entry into a classroom or school facility, and accuracy with handgun under duress.

 

(b)  Authorizes a qualified handgun instructor, upon certification, to conduct school safety training for applicants who hold a concealed handgun license.

 

(c)  Requires that the certification course include not less than 15 or more than 20 hours of instruction.

 

(d)  Authorizes DPS to adopt rules to administer this section, including the establishment of a fee sufficient to cover the costs of operation.

 

(e)  Authorizes DPS to create rules to administer this section, including the establishment of a fee sufficient to cover the costs of operating this certification.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2013.