(a) As used in this chapter, “school resource officer” means an individual who:

• (1) has completed the training described in subsection (b);
• (2) is assigned to one (1) or more school corporations or charter schools to:
• (A) assist the school safety specialist with the development and implementation of the school safety plan as provided in section 2 [IC 20-26-18.2-2] of this chapter; and
• (B) carry out any additional responsibilities assigned to the school resource officer under the employment engagement, contract, or memorandum of understanding and to:
• (i) protect against outside threats to the physical safety of students;
• (ii) prevent unauthorized access to school property; and
• (iii) secure schools against violence and natural disasters; and
• (3) is:
• (A) employed by a law enforcement agency;
• (B) appointed as a police reserve officer (as described in IC 36-8-3-20) or as a special deputy (as described in IC 36-8-10-10.6) if the police reserve officer or special deputy:
• (i) is subject to the direction of the sheriff or appointing law enforcement agency;
• (ii) is required to obey the rules and orders of the sheriff’s department or appointing law enforcement agency;
• (iii) is required to complete all training required of regular full-time law enforcement officers employed by the sheriff’s department or appointing law enforcement agency; and
• (iv) may be removed by the sheriff or appointing law enforcement agency at any time, with or without cause; or
• (C) a school corporation police officer appointed under IC 20-26-16-3.

(b) Before being appointed as a school resource officer, an individual must have:

• (1) successfully completed the minimum training requirements established for law enforcement officers under IC 5-2-1-9; and
• (2) received at least forty (40) hours of school resource officer training through:
• (A) the Indiana law enforcement training board established by IC 5-2-1-3;
• (B) the National Association of School Resource Officers; or
• (C) another school resource officer training program approved by the Indiana law enforcement training board.

(c) Training described in subsection (b)(2) must include instruction regarding skills, tactics, and strategies necessary to address the special nature of:

• (1) school campuses; and
• (2) school building security needs and characteristics.