West Virginia county school boards on Friday hired veterans and retired law enforcement officers to provide armed security for K-12 public schools under a bill passed by the Republican-controlled state Senate. There is a possibility of a contract.
Putnam County Republican Sen. Eric Tarr said the bill was introduced by military veterans concerned about school shootings across the country.
Mr. Tarr, the Senate Finance Committee chairman, said he has been told by retired police officers that schools need people who are trained to run to guns at a moment's notice when they need to protect children.
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The bill passed unanimously with support from three Democrats in the 34-member body. Two Republican senators were absent and did not vote.
This bill will now be debated in the House of Representatives.
The West Virginia Senate passed a similar bill last year, but it failed to pass the House. A House committee passed another bill last year that would allow K-12 teachers, administrators and support staff to carry guns in schools with concealed carry permits, but it was not taken up again. Ta.
Photo: The dome of the West Virginia State Capitol in Charleston, West Virginia. A bill passed by the state Senate would allow military veterans and retired law enforcement officers to provide armed security at K-12 public schools. (AP Photo/Jeff Gentner, File)
This year's Senate bill would allow county school boards to contract with honorably discharged military veterans, former state troopers, former deputy sheriffs and former federal law enforcement officers. Contractors are not school resource officers and are not considered law enforcement and do not have arrest powers.
Contractors must obtain a security clearance, pass a pre-employment drug test, and undergo a physical, vision and psychiatric examination. The bill also requires potential contractors to undergo training with the West Virginia State Police and complete a course on firearms and/or use of deadly force.
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School boards would not be allowed to hire contractors who have been convicted of criminal offenses such as domestic violence, drunk driving or child abuse.
The bill would allow county boards of education to contract with as many veterans and retired employees as they deem necessary. Ohio County Republican Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman said the bill is an important step toward making the state's public schools safer.
“Our teachers, staff and children have a right to go to school every day prepared to go home at night,” she said.
