Sec. 51.220. PUBLIC JUNIOR COLLEGE SCHOOL MARSHALS. (a) In this section, "public junior college" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
(b) The governing board of a public junior college may appoint one or more school marshals.
(c) The governing board of a public junior college may select for appointment as a school marshal under this section an applicant who is an employee of the public junior college and certified as eligible for appointment under Section 1701.260, Occupations Code. The governing board may, but shall not be required to, reimburse the amount paid by the applicant to participate in the training program under that section.
(d) A school marshal appointed by the governing board of a public junior college may carry or possess a handgun on the physical premises of a public junior college campus, but only:
(1) in the manner provided by written regulations adopted by the governing board; and
(2) at a specific public junior college campus as specified by the governing board.
(e) Any written regulations adopted for purposes of Subsection (d) must provide that a school marshal may carry a concealed handgun as described by Subsection (d), except that if the primary duty of the school marshal involves regular, direct contact with students, the marshal may not carry a concealed handgun but may possess a handgun on the physical premises of a public junior college campus in a locked and secured safe within the marshal's immediate reach when conducting the marshal's primary duty. The written regulations must also require that a handgun carried by or within access of a school marshal may be loaded only with frangible ammunition designed to disintegrate on impact for maximum safety and minimal danger to others.
(f) A school marshal may access a handgun under this section only under circumstances that would justify the use of deadly force under Section 9.32 or 9.33, Penal Code.
(g) A public junior college employee's status as a school marshal becomes inactive on:
(1) expiration of the employee's school marshal license under Section 1701.260, Occupations Code;
(2) suspension or revocation of the employee's license to carry a concealed handgun issued under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code;
(3) termination of the employee's employment with the public junior college; or
(4) notice from the governing board of the public junior college that the employee's services as school marshal are no longer required.
(h) The identity of a school marshal appointed under this section is confidential, except as provided by Section 1701.260(j), Occupations Code, and is not subject to a request under Chapter 552, Government Code.
(i) If a parent or guardian of a student enrolled at a public junior college inquires in writing, the governing board of the public junior college shall provide the parent or guardian written notice indicating whether any employee of the public junior college is currently appointed a school marshal. The notice may not disclose information that is confidential under Subsection (h).
Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1144 (S.B. 386), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2015.
Last modified: September 28, 2016