§ 16-11-130-1 — Allowing personnel to carry weapons within certain school safety zones and at school functions

(a) As used in this Code section, the term: (1) "Bus or other transportation furnished by a school" means a bus or other transportation furnished by a public or private elementary or secondary school. (2) "School function" means a school function or related activity that occurs outside of a school safety zone for a public or private elementary or secondary school. (3) "School safety zone" means in or on any real property or building owned by or leased to any public or private elementary or secondary school or local board of education and used for elementary or secondary education. (4) "Weapon" shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 16-11-127.1 . (b) This Code section shall not be construed to require or otherwise mandate that any local board of education or school administrator adopt or implement a practice or program for the approval of personnel to possess or carry weapons within a school safety zone, at a school function, or on a bus or other transportation furnished by a school nor shall this Code section create any liability for adopting or declining to adopt such practice or program. Such decision shall rest with each individual local board of education. If a local board of education adopts a policy to allow certain personnel to possess or carry weapons as provided in paragraph (6) of subsection (c) of Code Section 16-11-127.1 , such policy shall include approval of personnel to possess or carry weapons and provide for: (1) Training of approved personnel prior to authorizing such personnel to carry weapons. The training shall at a minimum include training on judgment pistol shooting, marksmanship, and a review of current laws relating to the use of force for the defense of self and others; provided, however, that the local board of education training policy may substitute for certain training requirements the personnel's prior military or law enforcement service if the approved personnel has previously served as a certified law enforcement officer or has had military service which involved similar weapons training; (2) An approved list of the types of weapons and ammunition and the quantity of weapons and ammunition authorized to be possessed or carried; (3) The exclusion from approval of any personnel who has had an employment or other history indicating any type of mental or emotional instability as determined by the local board of education; and (4) A mandatory method of securing weapons which shall include at a minimum a requirement that the weapon, if permitted to be carried concealed by personnel, shall be carried on the person and not in a purse, briefcase, bag, or similar other accessory which is not secured on the body of the person and, if maintained separate from the person, shall be maintained in a secured lock safe or similar lock box that cannot be easily accessed by students. (c) Any personnel selected to possess or carry weapons within a school safety zone, at a school function, or on a bus or other transportation furnished by a school shall be a license holder, and the local board of education shall be responsible for conducting a criminal history background check of such personnel annually to determine whether such personnel remains qualified to be a license holder. (d) The selection of approved personnel to possess or carry a weapon within a school safety zone, at a school function, or on a bus or other transportation furnished by a school shall be done strictly on a voluntary basis. No personnel shall be required to possess or carry a weapon within a school safety zone, at a school function, or on a bus or other transportation furnished by a school and shall not be terminated or otherwise retaliated against for refusing to possess or carry a weapon. (e) The local board of education shall be responsible for any costs associated with approving personnel to carry or possess weapons within a school safety zone, at a school function, or on a bus or other transportation furnished by a school; provided, however, that nothing contained in this Code section shall prohibit any approved personnel from paying for part or all of such costs or using any other funding mechanism available, including donations or grants from private persons or entities. (f) Documents and meetings pertaining to personnel approved to carry or possess weapons within a school safety zone, at a school function, or on a bus or other transportation furnished by a school shall be considered employment and public safety security records and shall be exempt from disclosure under Article 4 of Chapter 18 of Title 50.

Legislative History

Added by 2014 Ga. Laws 604,§ 1-9, eff. 7/1/2014.