An Act To Allow School Resource Officers To Have Jurisdiction at Off-site Events

Emergency preamble. Whereas,  acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and

Whereas,  school resource officers are designated local law enforcement officers who provide security and crime prevention in the school environment; and

Whereas,  schools often hold school activities, such as proms, at off-campus locations where the school resource officer has no law enforcement jurisdiction; and

Whereas,  this legislation needs to take effect immediately in order to ensure that for upcoming events in the current school year a school resource officer at an off-campus event is the same officer who works with that student population on a regular basis; and

Whereas,  in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA c. 223, sub-c. 10  is enacted to read:

SUBCHAPTER 10

SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS

§ 6681.  School resource officers

A school administrative unit may accept from a local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over a school's premises a law enforcement officer certified pursuant to Title 25, chapter 341 as a school resource officer to assist with school security, safety, emergency preparedness, emergency response or any other responsibility assigned to the school resource officer by the school or the local law enforcement agency.

§ 6682.  Enforcement powers

A school administrative unit may authorize a school resource officer under section 6681 to enforce laws relating to crimes committed at a school activity located on or off school premises or on a school bus operating off school premises when the activity or school bus is not within the school resource officer's jurisdiction upon the execution of a memorandum of understanding with the municipal law enforcement agency and county sheriff's office that has law enforcement jurisdiction over the school's premises and the municipal law enforcement agency and county sheriff's office that has law enforcement jurisdiction over the location of the school activity.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill allows a school resource officer to enforce laws relating to crimes committed on school premises and at other locations where that school's activities are occurring.