kentucky capitol

Kentucky Governor Signs Law Requiring School Officers to Carry a Gun

The new measure, which goes into effect immediately, amends previously passed legislation meant to improve statewide school safety.

After the bill received strong support from the Republican-held Senate and House, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat, signed a school safety bill into law that implements a new requirement: all school police officers must carry a gun.

Senate Bill 8, sponsored by Republican state senator Max Wise, amends a 2019 law that called for a school resource officer in every public school in Kentucky. The law did not state whether or not that officer was required to have a firearm, The Lexington Herald-Leader reported.

“This new legislation, which goes into effect immediately, is crucial to the General Assembly’s continued efforts to protect Kentucky’s children, teachers and staff by improving the safety of our schools,” Wise said in a statement. “I am appreciative of all those who provided the necessary input and support to see this measure come to fruition.”

Beshear acknowledged concerns about the legislation and said that he would continue to develop a training curriculum for SROs that addresses the gun requirement, according to the Herald-Leader.

The requirement applies to every school campus where there are one or more school buildings rather than every school, according to the bill. While Wise cited widespread support for arming officers among school employees, some members of the Black Caucus in the Kentucky House expressed concerns of firearms being used on a student during an incident with officers.

“I’m asking that you consider children that come from a different walk,” said Rep. Charles Booker, a Democrat, during arguments on the bill in the House.

Outside of the gun requirement bill, Kentucky is also grappling with how to pay for its previous school safety legislation, which was passed last year. Beshear said that he has included enough money -- $18.2 million -- to fund the part of the bill that requires school safety upgrades.

School districts across the state would be on the hook for at least $121 million more each year to meet the requirements for the legislation, according to an estimate from the Kentucky School Boards Association.

Jim Flynn, the leader of the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents, said earlier this year that the Daily News that the organization is working with the Kentucky School Boards Association to push lawmakers to allocate the proper funding.

“Many superintendents are concerned about the facility improvements and having a funding stream to make those happen,” Flynn said.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Ensuring School Bus Safety: Tech-Driven Advancements and Their Impact on Student Transportation

    Parents and school districts have always shared one fundamental, non-negotiable goal: to keep students safe while traveling to and from school. Period. Read Now

  • How Campus Security Became an Art of Disappearing

    Walk across any university campus at 8:47 a.m. on a Tuesday, and you'll witness something remarkable. Thousands of students stream through buildings, carrying everything from vintage MacBooks to oversized coffee cups, lost in conversations about weekend plans or upcoming exams. If the right weapons detection is in place, most will never notice the sophisticated security measures protecting them. This invisibility can represent the highest achievement in modern campus security design. Read Now

  • Torrance USD Standardizes Its Mass Communications

    The Torrance Unified School District is a cornerstone of the Torrance, Calif. community, dedicated to providing a high-quality education that prepares students for success in college, career, and life. Serving a diverse student population, Torrance USD delivers a comprehensive and enriching educational experience from kindergarten through high school. The school district comprises 17 elementary, eight middle, and five high schools, one continuation high school, and one alternative high school.  Read Now

  • How a Rural School District Enhanced Safety, Reduced Vaping, and Improved Efficiency by Modernizing Security

    As educational leaders, our primary mission is creating safe, productive learning environments where our students can thrive. Today, that unfortunately means addressing ever-evolving challenges that range from security threats to the growing epidemic of student vaping, all while managing tight budgets and (for many of us) geographically dispersed facilities. Read Now