This document addresses authorization of school resource officers

(1) An LEA or school shall develop and implement a board approved comprehensive LEA plan or policy for student and classroom management, and school discipline.

(2) An LEA shall include administration, instruction and support staff, students, parents, community council, and other community members in policy development, training, and prevention implementation so as to create a community sense of participation, ownership, support, and responsibility.

(3) A plan described in Subsection (1) shall include:

• (a) the definitions of Section 53G-8-210;
• (b) written Standard for student behavior expectations, including school and classroom management;
• (c) effective instructional practices for teaching student expectations, including:
• (i) self-discipline;
• (ii) citizenship;
• (iii) civic skills; and
• (iv) social skills;
• (d) systematic methods for reinforcement of expected behaviors;
• (e) uniform and equitable methods for correction of student behavior;
• (f) uniform and equitable methods for at least annual school level data-based evaluations of efficiency and effectiveness;
• (g) an ongoing staff development program related to development of:
• (i) student behavior expectations;
• (ii) effective instructional practices for teaching and reinforcing behavior expectations;
• (iii) effective intervention strategies; and
• (iv) effective strategies for evaluation of the efficiency and effectiveness of interventions;
• (h) procedures for ongoing training of appropriate school personnel in:
• (i) crisis intervention training;
• (ii) emergency safety intervention professional development; and
• (iii) LEA policies related to emergency safety interventions consistent with evidence-based practice;
• (i) policies and procedures relating to the use and abuse of alcohol and controlled substances by students;
• (j) policies and procedures, consistent with requirements of Rule R277-613, related to:
• (i) bullying;
• (ii) cyber-bullying;
• (iv) hazing; and
• (v) retaliation;
• (k) policies and procedures for the use of emergency safety interventions for all students consistent with evidence-based practices including prohibition of:
• (i) physical restraint, subject to the requirements of Section R277-609-5, except when the physical restraint is allowed as described in Subsection 53G-8-302(2);
• (ii) prone, or face-down, physical restraint;
• (iii) supine, or face-up, physical restraint;
• (iv) physical restraint that obstructs the airway of a student or adversely affects a student's primary mode of communication;
• (v) mechanical restraint, except:
• (A) protective or stabilizing restraints;
• (B) restraints required by law, including seatbelts or any other safety equipment when used to secure students during transportation; and
• (C) any device used by a law enforcement officer in carrying out law enforcement duties;
• (vi) chemical restraint, except as:
• (A) prescribed by a licensed physician, or other qualified health professional acting under the scope of the professional's authority under State law, for the standard treatment of a student's medical or psychiatric condition; and
• (B) administered as prescribed by the licensed physician or other qualified health professional acting under the scope of the professional's authority under state law;
• (vii) seclusionary time out, subject to the requirements of Section R277-609-5, except when a student presents an immediate danger of serious physical harm to self or others; and
• (viii) for a student with a disability, emergency safety interventions written into a student's IEP, as a planned intervention, unless:
• (A) school personnel, the family, and the IEP team agree less restrictive means which meet circumstances described in Section R277-608-5 have been attempted;
• (B) a FBA has been conducted; and
• (C) a positive behavior intervention plan based on data analysis has been written into the plan and implemented. Utah Office of Admnistrative Rules

(1) In addition to the responsibilities contained in this title, the department shall:

• (j) employ a law enforcement officer as a public safety liaison to be housed at the State Board of Education who shall work with the State Board of Education to:
• (i) support training with relevant state agencies for school resource officers as described in Section 53G-8-702;
• (ii) coordinate the creation of model policies and memorandums of understanding for a local education agency and a local law enforcement agency; and
• (iii) ensure cooperation between relevant state agencies, a local education agency, and a local law enforcement agency to foster compliance with disciplinary related statutory provisions, including Sections 53E-3-516 and 53G-8-211.

As used in this part: (1) “Law enforcement agency” means the same as that term is defined in Section 53-1-102. (2) “School resource officer” or “SRO” means a law enforcement officer, as defined in Section 53-13-103, who contracts with or whose law enforcement agency contracts with an LEA to provide law enforcement services for the LEA.

(1) An LEA may contract with a law enforcement agency or an individual to provide school resource officer services at the LEA if the LEA governing board reviews and approves the contract. (2) If an LEA contracts with a law enforcement agency or an individual to provide SRO services at the LEA, the LEA governing board shall require in the contract:

• (a) an acknowledgment by the law enforcement agency or the individual that an SRO hired under the contract shall:

• (i) provide for and maintain a safe, healthy, and productive learning environment in a school;

• (ii) act as a positive role model to students;

• (iii) work to create a cooperative, proactive, and problem-solving partnership between law enforcement and the LEA;

• (iv) emphasize the use of restorative approaches to address negative behavior; and

• (v) at the request of the LEA, teach a vocational law enforcement class;

• (b) a description of the shared understanding of the LEA and the law enforcement agency or individual regarding the roles and responsibilities of law enforcement and the LEA to:

• (i) maintain safe schools;

• (ii) improve school climate; and

• (iii) support educational opportunities for students;

• (c) a designation of student offenses that the SRO shall confer with the LEA to resolve, including an offense that:

• (i) is a minor violation of the law; and

• (ii) would not violate the law if the offense was committed by an adult;

• (d) a designation of student offenses that are administrative issues that an SRO shall refer to a school administrator for resolution in accordance with Section 53G-8-211;

• (e) a detailed description of the rights of a student under state and federal law with regard to:

• (i) searches;

• (ii) questioning; and

• (iii) information privacy;

• (f) a detailed description of:

• (i) job duties;

• (ii) training requirements; and

• (iii) other expectations of the SRO and school administration in relation to law enforcement at the LEA;

• (g) that an SRO who is hired under the contract and the principal at the school where an SRO will be working, or the principal's designee, will jointly complete the SRO training described in Section 53G-8-702; and

• (h) if the contract is between an LEA and a law enforcement agency, that:

• (i) both parties agree to jointly discuss SRO applicants; and

• (ii) the law enforcement agency will accept feedback from an LEA about an SRO's performance. Utah State Legislature