Texas Education Code 37.0811 – School Marshals: Public Schools
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(a) The board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of an open-enrollment charter school may appoint one or more school marshals for each campus.
Terms Used In Texas Education Code 37.0811
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- in writing: includes any representation of words, letters, or figures, whether by writing, printing, or other means. See Texas Government Code 312.011
- Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- Written: includes any representation of words, letters, symbols, or figures. See Texas Government Code 311.005
(b) The board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of an open-enrollment charter school may select for appointment as a school marshal under this section an applicant who is an employee of the school district or open-enrollment charter school and certified as eligible for appointment under § 1701.260, Occupations Code. The board of trustees or governing body may, but shall not be required to, reimburse the amount paid by the applicant to participate in the training program under that section.
(c) A school marshal appointed by the board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of an open-enrollment charter school may carry a concealed handgun or possess a handgun on the physical premises of a school, but only:
(1) in the manner provided by written regulations adopted by the board of trustees or the governing body; and
(2) at a specific school as specified by the board of trustees or governing body, as applicable.
(d) Any written regulations adopted for purposes of Subsection (c) must provide that a school marshal may carry a concealed handgun on the school marshal’s person or possess the handgun on the physical premises of a school in a locked and secured safe or other locked and secured location. The written regulations must also require that a handgun carried or possessed by a school marshal may be loaded only with frangible duty ammunition approved for that purpose by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
(e) A school marshal may use a handgun the school marshal is authorized to carry or possess under this section only under circumstances that would justify the use of deadly force under § 9.32 or 9.33, Penal Code.
(f) A school district or charter school employee’s status as a school marshal becomes inactive on:
(1) expiration of the employee’s school marshal license under § 1701.260, Occupations Code;
(2) suspension or revocation of the employee’s license to carry a handgun issued under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code;
(3) termination of the employee’s employment with the district or charter school; or
(4) notice from the board of trustees of the district or the governing body of the charter school that the employee’s services as school marshal are no longer required.
(g) The identity of a school marshal appointed under this section is confidential, except as provided by § 1701.260(j), Occupations Code, and is not subject to a request under Chapter 552, Government Code.
(h) If a parent or guardian of a student enrolled at a school inquires in writing, the school district or open-enrollment charter school shall provide the parent or guardian written notice indicating whether any employee of the school is currently appointed a school marshal. The notice may not disclose information that is confidential under Subsection (g).