§45-30-103. Formation of volunteer emergency security forces; training and supervision.

(a) Upon a determination by the principal of any Franklin County public K-12 school that the safety of the students at the school is not adequately protected or that additional security is necessary to ensure the safety of the students or employees, he or she may request volunteers to serve on an emergency security force for the school. Volunteers shall consist of current employees of the school, retired employees of the school, and residents of the school district.

(b) Once a list of volunteers has been compiled by the principal, the principal shall submit the list to the Sheriff of Franklin County. The sheriff shall review the list to determine whether the list contains a sufficient number of suitable volunteers to staff an emergency security force at the school. If the sheriff determines the number of suitable volunteers is sufficient, he or she may initiate an emergency security force program for the school.

(c) Upon formation of an emergency security force, the sheriff, in conjunction with administrative school personnel, shall prepare a detailed crisis plan for the school that includes a comprehensive plan of action for the emergency security force to follow in the event the security of the school is compromised or the safety of students or employees is threatened. The plan shall also specify how and where weapons may be stored and carried by emergency security force members and circumstances under which certain weapons may be used. All weapons and equipment used shall be approved by the sheriff.

(d) A volunteer emergency security force member shall be classified as a reserve deputy sheriff and shall serve in that position at the pleasure of the sheriff. Service as a reserve deputy sheriff under this section shall not include the power of arrest. As a member of an emergency security force, a volunteer shall receive any training deemed necessary by the sheriff and, when fulfilling his or her duties as a member of the emergency security force, shall be under the supervision and direction of the sheriff. The sheriff may offer self defense or other training to those school employees who are not selected to serve on an emergency security force.

(e) An emergency security force member shall receive no compensation for his or her service on an emergency security force, but may be reimbursed for actual necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of his or her duties on behalf of the emergency security force from funds otherwise appropriated by the local board of education. Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit a local board of education from providing a salary supplement to the members of an emergency security force.

(f) Expenses related to the training of emergency security force members and the purchase of any equipment and weapons deemed necessary by the sheriff shall be administered by the local board of education and paid from funds appropriated for that purpose.

(g) Each local board of education in the county shall oversee and provide for the implementation of this section within the schools under its jurisdiction.

(Act 2013-268, p. 912, §1.)