A child crosses under caution tape at Robb Elementary School on May 25, 2022 in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 students and 2 adults were killed. Dozens of officers from various agencies stood in the hallways for over an hour, reportedly confused about chain of command. If a school district has guardians, writes Teri Carter, what is the chain of command with SROs, the police, etc.? (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

FRANKFORT — A Republican bill aimed at increasing school security by enlisting armed “guardians” was approved by a Senate committee Thursday, despite concerns raised by Republican Sen. Danny Carroll, a former police officer, who called for more input from law enforcement.

Kentucky senator wants to expand school safety law with ‘guardians’ and mental health reports

The sponsor, Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, says Senate Bill 2 expands on the School Safety and Resiliency Act that he successfully carried in 2019. That bill was introduced in response to a mass shooting at Marshall County High School in 2018 that killed two students and injured others.

The portion of the bill that has gained the most attention would allow certified “guardians” to fill in for law enforcement officers in schools that do not currently have officers. Those eligible — including honorably discharged military veterans and retired or former law enforcement officers — would undergo special training.

Wise told the Senate Education Committee Thursday that his legislation has a “layered approach” to increasing school security while supporting mental health resources.?

“This bill is in no way replacing or removing any of the protective safeguards that we have in place when it comes to the security of our school campuses or the services provided to our students and our staff,” he said.?

The armed guardians would not have the authority to make arrests, unlike school resource officers, or SROs. Wise previously said 600 campuses do not have SROs for various reasons, primarily lack of funding and workforce participation.?

Ten members of the committee voted in favor of the bill. Democratic Senate Floor Leader Gerald Neal, of Louisville, passed.?

Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Benton, voted against the bill. Carroll represents Marshall County and is a former police officer. “I have some concerns about the amount of input that law enforcement has had in this bill, in developing this, because this affects them directly,” Carroll said before adding that SROs could work directly with a guardian and their lives could depend on their response.?

Carroll also stressed that military training, mission and experience are different from that of trained law enforcement officers.

Wise replied that he had reached out to the Department of Justice and police officers, who have also reviewed versions of the bill. He said his door is open to supporters and opponents and changes can be made before his legislation would be implemented in 2026.?

While explaining his yes vote, Democratic Caucus Chair Reggie Thomas, of Lexington, said that lawmakers should be cognizant that such legislation could lead to schools becoming “fortresses” in the future and could instill fear in Kentucky’s students.?

“They’re going to see more and more people with more and more guns and that’s going to have? a real impact on how they view school and their ability to learn,” he said.?

Cathy Hobart, a volunteer with the Kentucky chapter of Moms Demand Action, was the only member of the public who spoke against the bill. She said Wise’s provisions surrounding mental health in the legislation would have a positive effect, but the sections for using armed guards are problematic and would not stop violence.?

“Safe schools are built on trusting relationships among students, staff and administrators,” she said. “The most important thing that a school can do to prevent active shooter incidents and gun violence overall is to intervene before a person commits an act of violence.”?

Other states have similar programs. After the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018, Florida established a school guardian program.?