SB4 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris ElliottSenator

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

School safety, permits sheriffs and chiefs of police to contract with nonpublic schools to provide school resource officers

Summary

SB4 lets sheriffs and police chiefs contract with nonpublic K-12 schools to provide school resource officers, but only if public schools in the area also have access and the nonpublic school covers costs and insurance.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes contracts between local law enforcement and nonpublic K-12 schools to provide school resource officers. A contract can be made only if SRO services are available to every public school in the county or municipality where the contracted services would be provided. The nonpublic school must reimburse the county or city for the full cost of employing the SRO and must carry occurrence-based liability insurance naming the public entities as insured. If the required insurance is not in place for the contract term, the nonpublic school assumes liability for acts within the SRO's private employment; the act also allows off-duty officers to contract with nonpublic schools and lets sheriffs or police chiefs provide security services on campus; the measure takes effect June 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Nonpublic schools (private, church, parochial, or religious, including home-school entities) would be able to hire school resource officers under contract but must reimburse full costs and carry required insurance.
• Public school systems in the county or municipality and local government entities (county commissions, city councils, sheriffs, and police chiefs and their deputies) are involved because they provide SRO services, must ensure availability to public schools, and require reimbursement and insurance.

Key Provisions

• Allows contracts between sheriffs or local police chiefs and nonpublic schools to provide school resource officers.
• Contracts may be made only if SRO services are available to every public school in the relevant county or municipality.
• Nonpublic schools must fully reimburse the county or city for the full cost of employing each SRO (salary, benefits, and related costs).
• Nonpublic schools must provide occurrence-based liability insurance, primary coverage, naming the county, sheriff, deputies, or municipality and its police chief and officers as additional insureds.
• If the nonpublic school fails to maintain the required insurance, it assumes liability for acts by the SRO within the scope of private employment.
• Off-duty law enforcement officers may contract with or be employed by a nonpublic school in their private capacity.
• Sheriff or chief may provide security, traffic control, and similar services on the campus or property of a nonpublic school.
• The act does not waive immunity or statutory damages caps for government entities or officers.
• Effective date: June 1, 2025.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education