The legislature finds that the safety and welfare of the public school students of this state while attending sessions of the public schools is a matter of prime concern to the citizens of this state; that, in several isolated instances throughout this state, unlawful intruders into the public schools have subjected public school students and their teachers to physical and verbal attacks during sessions of the public schools and on the property of said public schools; that such attacks might have been prevented, and similar attacks will be prevented, if public school law enforcement officers are stationed in said schools; and that state aid to local boards is necessary to help such boards bear the cost of employing and stationing public school law enforcement officers.

(a) The commissioner may, in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this article and upon a finding of need therefor, authorize any board of education to employ, subject to the provisions of Title 11, Civil Service, of the Revised Statutes, one or more public school law enforcement officers, and to station such public school law enforcement officers in public schools of this state during hours when said public schools are normally in session or are occupied by public school students or their teachers. (b) No such public school law enforcement officer shall be employed, except upon the application of a board of education and with the approval of the county superintendent.

a. Following the development of the training course pursuant to subsection a. of section 2 of P.L. 2005, c. 276 (C. 52:17B-71.8) or 180 days following the effective date of this act, whichever occurs first, a board of education shall not assign a safe schools resource officer to a public school unless that individual first completes the safe schools resource officer training course. b. Following the development of the training course pursuant to subsection a. of section 2 of P.L. 2005, c. 276 (C. 52:17B-71.8) or 180 days following the effective date of this act, whichever occurs first, a board of education shall not assign an employee to serve as a school liaison to law enforcement unless that individual first completes the safe schools resource officer training course. c. A person who is assigned to a public school as a safe schools resource officer prior to the effective date of P.L. 2005, c. 276 (C. 52:17B-71.8 et al.) or assigned to serve as a school liaison to law enforcement prior to that date shall not be required to complete the safe schools resource officer training course developed by the Police Training Commission pursuant to subsection a. of section 2 of P.L. 2005, c. 276 (C. 52:17B-71.8), but may in accordance with that section.

MOA between NJDOE and local law enforcement.