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Panel expands SRO eligibility to very large K‑8 campuses; members ask how to treat districts that already fund SROs
Summary
The subcommittee adopted an amendment to the school safety proviso allowing K‑8 schools with enrollment over 1,500 to qualify for a state‑funded school resource officer even if a locally funded SRO exists; members raised questions about districts that previously funded SROs and whether the state can retroactively fund them.
The Criminal Justice Finance Subcommittee adopted an amendment to Proviso 63.8 to allow a kindergarten‑through‑eighth‑grade school with enrollment exceeding 1,500 students to be eligible for a state‑funded school resource officer even if the school already has a locally funded SRO.
Morgan, staff, said the amendment extends the existing SRO distribution rules to include large K‑8 campuses and recommended adopting the proviso as amended. The Chair explained the change was intended to ensure very large K‑8 campuses that operate like two schools in one would have adequate protection.
Senator Greenwood raised concerns about districts that had previously funded SROs locally and then were not able to secure replacement SROs when new state positions were added. “So instead of having the state fund it, that local school district was having to fund it,” Greenwood said, asking whether the committee could make exceptions for districts that took the initiative to hire SROs earlier. The Chair responded that the budget has offered flexibility over the years but that the state cannot retroactively fund positions already paid for locally; the Chair asked Morgan to review options for the full committee.
Why it matters: The change affects eligibility for state funding of school resource officers and will influence how districts that previously hired SROs locally are treated in future budget cycles.
Next steps: The committee adopted Proviso 63.8 as amended and will discuss possible remedies or flexibility for districts that previously funded SROs when the sub‑chair and staff meet before the full committee.
