School resource officer bill moves to House

FRANKFORT, Ky. (WTVQ) – Legislation designed to increase the pool of qualified applicants to be school resource officers passed the state Senate Tuesday with no dissent.

The measure, known as Senate Bill 162, would create the Kentucky State Police school resource officer designation (SRO). It would do this, in part, by specifying the requirements of employment of a state police SRO.

The other school safety measure is Senate Bill 1, which passed the Senate earlier this month by a 35-0 vote and is now under consideration in the House. Known as the School Safety and Resiliency Act, SB 1 would create a state school safety marshal, similar to the state fire marshal. SB 1 would also establish a framework for schools to expand the use of school resource officers.

SB 1 was the product of testimony, research and study over eight months by the nonpartisan School Safety Working Group. Legislators formed the group in response to the western Kentucky shooting at Marshall County High School last winter in Benton.

SB 162 passed the Senate by a 36-0 vote. The measure now goes to the House of Representatives for its consideration.