Bill Caption

Relating to the creation of a new category of law enforcement officer who shall be designated a school marshal.

Fiscal Notes

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB 1009: an impact of $0 through the biennium ending August 31, 2015. A school district or open-enrollment charter school could retain a licensed person to act as a school marshal. Costs of fees for training and salary are not anticipated to be significant, and it is assumed that a school would only choose to hire a school marshal if sufficient funds were available.

Bill Analysis

Summary: HB 1009 would allow public schools and open-enrollment charter schools to designate one staff member who has a concealed handgun license (CHL) as a school marshal, provided the staff member receives training and certification from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) and permitting one marshal for every 400 students. A school marshal would be required to keep the gun in a safe location when around children.

Analysis: HB 1009 seeks to protect the most basic property right - life. In light of the devastating attacks that have happened on public school campuses, this legislation functions to provide an option for protecting students while they are in the care of a school. This also gives school districts local control on deciding whether they want to have a school marshal. Support HB 1009.