As used in this chapter, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) “Intervention services” means any preventive, developmental, corrective, supportive services or treatment provided to a student who is at risk of school failure, is at risk of participation in violent behavior or juvenile crime, or has been expelled from the school district. Services may include, but are not limited to, screening to identify students at risk for emotional disabilities and antisocial behavior; direct instruction in academic, social, problem solving, and conflict resolution skills; alternative educational programs; psychological services; identification and assessment of abilities; counseling services; medical services; day treatment; family services; work and community service programs; (2) “Kentucky State Police school resource officer” or “KSPSRO” means a Kentucky State Police officer, CVE R Class, or Trooper R Class, as defined in KRS 16.010, who is employed by a school district as a school resource officer, as defined in this section, through a contract as secondary employment for the officer; (5) “School resource officer” or “SRO” means an officer whose primary job function is to work with youth at a school site as described in Section 3 of this Act, who has specialized training to work with youth at a school site pursuant to Section 3 of this Act, and who is:

• (a)
• 1. A sworn law enforcement officer; or
• 2. A special law enforcement officer appointed pursuant to KRS 61.902; and
• (b) Employed:
• 1. Through a contract between a local law enforcement agency and a school district;
• 2. Through a contract as secondary employment for an officer, as defined in KRS 16.010, between the Department of Kentucky State Police and a school district; or
• 3. Directly by a local board of education;

(4) On or before January 1, 2020, the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council, in collaboration with the Center for School Safety, shall promulgate administrative regulations in accordance with KRS Chapter 13A to establish three (3) levels of training for certification of school resource officers first employed as a school resource officer on or after March 11, 2019: School Resource Officer Training I (SRO I), School Resource Officer Training II (SRO II), and School Resource Officer Training III (SRO III). Each level shall consist of forty (40) hours of training, with SRO I to be completed within one (1) year of the date of the officer’s employment and SRO II and SRO III within the subsequent two (2) years. (5) Course curriculum for school resource officers employed on or after March 11, 2019, shall include but not be limited to:

• (a) Foundations of school-based law enforcement;
• (b) Threat assessment and response;
• (c) Youth drug use and abuse;
• (d) Social media and cyber security;
• (e) School resource officers as teachers and mentors;
• (f) Youth mental health awareness;
• (g) Diversity and bias awareness training;
• (h) Trauma-informed action;
• (i) Understanding students with special needs; and
• (j) De-escalation strategies. (6) Effective January 1, 2020, all school resource officers with active certification status shall successfully complete forty (40) hours of annual in-service training that has been certified or recognized by the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council for school resource officers. (7) In the event of extenuating circumstances beyond the control of an officer that prevent the officer from completing the in-service training within one (1) year, the commissioner of the Department of Criminal Justice Training or a designee may grant the officer an extension of time, not to exceed one hundred eighty (180) days, in which to complete the training. (8) Any school resource officer who fails to successfully complete training requirements within the specified time periods, including any approved time extensions, shall lose his or her school resource officer certification and shall no longer work in a school. (9) When a school resource officer is deficient in required training, the commissioner of the Department of Criminal Justice Training or his or her designee shall notify the council, which shall notify the officer and the officer’s employing agency. (10) A school resource officer who has lost school resource officer certification due solely to the officer’s failure to meet the training requirements of this section may regain certification status as a school resource officer and return to a school setting upon successful completion of the training deficiency.

(1) A KSPSRO shall possess sworn law enforcement authority and shall be trained in school-based policing and crisis response including all training required of school resource officers. If a school district decides to utilize a KSPSRO, the school district and the officer shall first enter into a memorandum of understanding that clarifies the purpose of the KSPSRO program and the roles and expectations of the participating entities. Any contract entered into pursuant to this subsection shall include:

• (a) A provision specifying that the KSPSRO shall follow the policies and procedures of the Department of Kentucky State Police and shall abide by federal, state, and local laws. The responsibility and decision to arrest or take other police action lies solely with the KSPSRO, respective to state law and the KSPSRO’s departmental standard operating procedures or standing order. The KSPSRO’s continual collaboration with school personnel and his or her understanding of each student’s needs may impact the decision to arrest or take other police action, but the responsibility is that of the KSPSRO;
• (b) A provision stipulating that the KSPSRO shall be an employee of the school district, but shall revert to Department of Kentucky State Police employee status during such time that the KSPSRO takes police action pursuant to state or federal law. The KSPSRO shall be under the immediate supervision and direction of the Department of Kentucky State Police when taking police action;
• (c) A provision stipulating that the school district shall be responsible for worker’s compensation coverage for the KSPSRO; and
• (d) A provision detailing how liability coverage will be provided for any acts or omissions of the KSPSRO within the scope of his or her duties.

(1) The Department of Kentucky State Police is encouraged to receive training on issues pertaining to school and student safety and shall be invited to meet annually with local superintendents to discuss emergency response plans and emergency response concerns. (2) The Department of Kentucky State Police is encouraged to collaborate with local school districts on policies and procedures for communicating to the school district any instances of trauma-exposed students.

This Act affected multiple statutes regarding school safety and student resiliency.