HB53 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Johnny Mack Morrow

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Public education, establishment of security forces at public K-12 schools, role of local law enforcement

Summary

HB53 would let public K-12 schools form volunteer emergency security forces made up of current/retired school staff and local residents, under police supervision and with state indemnification and school funding for training and equipment.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill allows principals or local superintendents to request volunteers to staff an emergency security force. The sheriff or chief of police would review the list and, if enough suitable volunteers exist, start the program and supervise it. Volunteers would be treated as reserve deputies or reserve police officers (without arrest powers), receive necessary training, and operate under supervision, with a detailed crisis plan and weapon/storage guidelines approved by law enforcement. Volunteers would not be paid, but could be reimbursed for certain expenses; training and equipment costs would be funded by the local school board. The state would indemnify participants and certain officials for acts within the scope of service, and the State Department of Education would issue rules for implementation by local boards.

Who It Affects

• Public K-12 students and school staff, who may have increased on-site security and a security presence at their schools.
• Volunteer participants (current and retired school employees and local citizens) who would join the emergency security force, undergo training, be supervised by sheriffs or police, and perform security duties without arrest powers and without regular pay.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes formation of volunteer emergency security forces at public K-12 schools, composed of current/retired school employees and local residents.
• Sheriff or chief of police to train, supervise, review volunteer lists, approve weapons/equipment, and develop school crisis plans for the emergency security force.
• Volunteers classified as reserve deputy sheriff or reserve police officer; no arrest powers; receive training; operate under sheriff/police supervision; some self-defense training offered for non-selected staff.
• Volunteers receive no compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses; local boards may provide salary supplements; training and equipment costs paid by local boards.
• State indemnifies volunteers and certain officials for acts within the scope of service, not for intentional misconduct; DOE to issue implementing rules; local boards to oversee implementation.
• Expenditure note: bill acknowledges local funds would be involved but is deemed exempt from certain constitutional requirements because expenditures are at the school board level; effective date is the first day of the third month after passage.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education