18A:41-8 Establishment of school security position pilot program.

1. a. The Commissioner of Education shall establish a three-year pilot program that provides for the training and placement of veterans in school security positions available in school districts. The purpose of the pilot program shall be to increase school security by utilizing the skills of veterans.

b. The commissioner, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall establish policies and procedures for the recruitment, selection, and training of veterans eligible to participate in the pilot program, and for matching the selected veterans to school security positions available in school districts. The policies shall evaluate the level of skills, training, experience, fitness, and other qualifications deemed necessary for a veteran to serve in a school security position.

Notwithstanding the provisions of P.L.2004, c.134 (C.45:19A-1 et seq.) or P.L.2005, c.276 (C.52:17B-71.8 et al.) to the contrary, the commissioner may utilize the education and training program for security officers established pursuant to section 5 of the "Security Officer Registration Act," P.L.2004, c.134 (C.45:19A-5) or the training for safe schools resource officers and school liaisons to law enforcement developed pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2005, c.276 (C.52:17B-71.8), to train eligible veterans for school security positions under the pilot program.

c. A school district that wants to participate in the pilot program shall submit an application to the commissioner in such form as required by the commissioner. The school district, as part of the application, shall include information on the security needs of the school district, the number of school security positions at each school, the rate of turnover in these positions, and other information as required by the commissioner.

d. The commissioner shall select up to 12 school districts for participation in the pilot program. The commissioner shall select districts in the northern, central, and southern regions of the State and shall seek a cross section of school districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas of the State. The selected school districts may include, but shall not be limited to, Making Our Schools Safe Districts as designated under the Department of Education's Safer Schools for a Better Tomorrow initiative. In selecting the pilot school districts, the commissioner shall consider the security needs of the district as reflected in the data reported in the commissioner's annual report on violence, vandalism, and harassment, intimidation, or bullying in the public schools, as required under section 3 of P.L.1982, c.163 (C.18A:17-48).

e. Three years following the establishment of the pilot program, the commissioner shall submit a report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1). The report shall contain information on the implementation of the pilot program, the effectiveness of veterans in school security positions, and the recommendations of the commissioner and the Attorney General on the advisability of continuing, expanding, or modifying the program.

L.2013, c.277, s.1.