Should There be National Training Standards for School Resource Officers? (H.R. 5243)

What is H.R. 5243?

(Updated April 18, 2021)

This bill — the School Watch and Training (SWAT) Act  — would require the Attorney General and Secretary of Education to develop national standards for school resource officers. Those standards would include a requirement that all school resource officers complete recommended training, along with standards ensuring the competence of the officers and the quality of security and active shooter training they’re provided. Within 180 days of this bill’s enactment a report containing those standards and a plan for implementing them would have to be provided to Congress.

Argument in favor

It’s common sense for the Depts. of Justice and Education to develop training standards for school resource officers who are the front line of keeping students safe at school.

Argument opposed

There’s no need for the Depts. of Justice and Education to develop national training standards for school resource officers, state agencies and local school districts can handle that.

Impact

School resource officers; law enforcement agencies; and the Depts. of Justice and Education.

Cost of H.R. 5243

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) introduced this bill to establish national training standards for school resource officers, including active shooter training:

“American schools are soft targets, and as a nation, we must change that. Airlines used to be soft targets, they’re certainly not anymore. We’ve hardened vulnerable areas before, and we shall again. That effort  begins with empowering and supporting local law enforcement… We must ensure that our public schools have the necessary resources and a sufficient number of well-trained cops to protect our kids and teachers.”

This legislation has the support of five cosponsors, all of whom are Republicans.

Media:

• Sponsoring Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) Press Release
  
• KATC