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Rep. Ted Hill introduces RS 32,342 to allow trained school employees to carry concealed firearms
Summary
Rep. Ted Hill introduced RS 32,342 to permit school employees to carry concealed handguns after POST‑certified training; the proposal sets training, ammunition and qualification requirements and prompted questions about cost, oversight and confidentiality.
Representative Ted Hill, R‑District 14 (Eagle and Emmett), introduced RS 32,342 to authorize some school employees to carry concealed handguns on school property after completing POST‑certified training. Hill said the change is intended to reduce the “soft target” risk at schools and described a training regimen that can range up to six days of scenario‑based instruction and annual range qualifications.
Hill told the committee the program would use POST (the Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training)‑certified instructors and that participants could be certified to a standard Hill likened to deputy training. He said annual qualifications would occur twice a year in the draft and cited scenario‑based exercises and substantial live‑fire practice—he mentioned “about 1,500 rounds” in describing advanced training scenarios.
On ammunition, Hill said the authorized loaded concealed handgun ammunition would be hollow‑point rounds—the sponsor said that recommendation came from law‑enforcement advisors because hollow points are less likely to over‑penetrate walls compared with some other ammunition types.
Representative Green asked who would pay for POST training and whether districts could be required to cover costs. Hill said attendance would generally be the responsibility of the individual and estimated a participant cost around $500–$600 after discounts the POST office might provide. Green requested that the fiscal note clarify whether costs would fall on individuals or school districts.
Several legislators expressed concerns about oversight, liability and transparency. Representative Boyle asked whether POST training would be centrally run; Hill said POST‑certified trainers operate statewide as private contractors and that the committee would see more detail at a hearing. Representative Kiehlis raised that the bill requires confidentiality about participants’ identities and questioned how secrecy would produce a deterrent effect; Hill said local law enforcement and school boards would know and he expected word would spread informally.
On liability, Hill said participants would be personally responsible for their actions—“every bullet has a lawyer hooked to it,” he said—drawing parallels to public carry elsewhere.
Sheriff and police participation was discussed: Hill said sheriffs and local police “participated in this writing” of the draft and provided recommendations but that agencies were not formally endorsing the policy; Hill described them as maintaining a narrow boundary because enforcement remains their responsibility.
Representative Alfieri moved to introduce RS 32,342. Committee members voted to introduce the RS; the chair noted there would be a full hearing with more questions and testimony.
