SB 905: Modifies language relating to school protection officers and creates Missouri Rangers training program

SS/SCS/SB 905 - This act establishes the Missouri Rangers and creates provisions relating to a training program for the Missouri Rangers. This act requires the POST Commission to establish a training program to be known as the "Missouri Rangers", and shall establish minimum standards for training instructors, training centers, and training programs that focus on preventing and responding to emergency or violent crisis situations in school settings. The arrest powers granted to any person who successfully completes the Missouri Rangers training program shall be limited to property or premises owned, leased, rented, or possessed by the school or school district and firearms offenses. This provision shall not apply to any person who is an active law enforcement officer. The training program shall be established by the POST Commission. The program shall not be longer than one hundred sixty hours, and shall consist of state and federal constitutional and statutory law; firearms training; close quarter combat; implicit and racial bias; active shooter training; defensive tactics; and any other related training deemed necessary by POST. An applicant shall not be granted entry to the training program without successfully completing the physical training requirements for their age range. The POST commission is granted the authority to promulgate rules for continuing education training for the Missouri Rangers. A certificate of Missouri Ranger training program completion and a Ranger badge shall be issued to any person that successfully completes the training program. A copy of such certificate shall be provided to the director of the Department of Public Safety. Under this act, the outermost garment of the Missouri Ranger uniform must display the title "RANGER" in capitalized block letters. A school or school district that utilizes this program has the authority to allow Rangers to carry a firearm or other weapon capable of lethal use on school property. The school or school district shall also decide the type of weapon carried and whether it shall be concealed. If open carrying a pistol, Rangers must use a level three retention holster. Finally, for the purpose of liability, workers' compensation, and any other employment-related matter, each Ranger shall be an employee of the school that hires them, and shall have qualified immunity. TRISTAN BENSON, JR.