Bill

Bill > SB2539


MS SB2539

School resource officers; enhance provisions for.


summary

Introduced
01/20/2025
In Committee
01/20/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
02/04/2025

Introduced Session

2025 Regular Session

Bill Summary

An Act To Provide That, For The 2025-2026 School Year, The State Department Of Education Shall Implement A Pilot Program In 12 School Districts Requiring That School Resource Officers Serve As Mentors For Students In Schools; To Provide That Three School Districts From Each Congressional District Shall Be Selected To Participate, Unless Fewer Than Three School Districts From A Congressional District Apply; To Amend Section 37-3-82, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Provide That All Agencies Receiving Awards Through The Mississippi Community Oriented Policing Services In Schools (mcops) Grant Program Must Send The School Resource Officers Funded By The Grant To The Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers' Training Academy, Where They Shall Be Required To Participate In Training Through The Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Program At The Academy, Or To Another State-recognized Law Enforcement Academy, Where They Shall Be Required To Participate In A Comparable Training Program; To Provide That, Beginning With The 2026-2027 School Year, The Mcops Program Shall Provide A Minimum Of One Grant For One School Resource Officer To Serve In Each School District, Regardless Of Whether The Grant Recipient Is A School District Or A Law Enforcement Agency, Provided That The Applicant Meets The Requirements For Grant Applicants; To Amend Section 37-7-321, Mississippi Code Of 1972, To Require A School Resource Officer's Training To Consist Of Standard Law Enforcement Training, Together With A Specific Training Curriculum For School Resource Officers Developed By The State Department Of Education, Which Shall Include Instruction On Mentoring Students And Developing Relationships With School Personnel, Students, Parents And Guardians, And The Local Community; And For Related Purposes.

AI Summary

This bill establishes a pilot program for school resource officers (SROs) in Mississippi during the 2025-2026 school year, where 12 school districts (three from each congressional district) will have SROs serve as student mentors to improve academic performance and mental health outcomes. The bill modifies the existing Mississippi Community Oriented Policing Services in Schools (MCOPS) grant program by requiring that SROs funded through the program undergo specialized training at the Mississippi Law Enforcement Officers' Training Academy or a comparable state-recognized law enforcement academy. Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, the MCOPS program will be required to provide at least one grant for an SRO in each school district, regardless of whether the applicant is a school district or law enforcement agency. Additionally, the bill mandates that SRO training now include standard law enforcement training plus a specific curriculum developed by the State Department of Education, which focuses on mentoring students and building relationships with school personnel, students, parents, guardians, and the local community. The State Department of Education is also required to submit a report to the Legislature by October 1, 2026, detailing the results of the pilot program, with the bill set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (3)

Last Action

Died In Committee (on 02/04/2025)

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