AN ACT to authorize certain members of the faculty or staff of a school to carry a handgun on the school grounds to respond to acts of violence or an imminent threat of violence.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  This act shall be known as The School Self‑Defense Act.

SECTION 2.  G.S. 14‑269.2 reads as rewritten:

§ 14‑269.2.  Weapons on campus or other educational property.

(a)        The following definitions apply to this section:

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(3a)      Volunteer school faculty guardian. – A person who (i) is a member of the faculty or staff of a school, (ii) is a full‑time or part‑time employee, and (iii) possesses a valid concealed handgun permit issued to the person in accordance with Article 54B of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes.

(3b)      Volunteer school safety resource officer. – A person who volunteers as a school safety resource officer as provided by G.S. 162‑26 or G.S. 160A‑288.4.

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(g)        This section shall not apply to any of the following:

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(8)        Subject to the condition set forth in subsection (m) of this section, a volunteer school faculty guardian, while on the grounds of the school the person is employed by or assigned to, who meets all of the following requirements:

a.         Successfully completes 16 hours of active shooter training in the School Faculty Guardian program developed and administered by the North Carolina Criminal Justice Education and Training Standards Commission pursuant to G.S. 17C‑6(a)(21).

b.         Submits to the chief administrator of the school on an annual basis written notice that the person continues to possess a valid concealed handgun permit issued to the person in accordance with Article 54B of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes.

c.         Provides evidence satisfactory to the chief administrator of the school on an annual basis that the person has demonstrated proficiency with the type of handgun and handgun retention system used.

d.         When on school grounds, only possesses the handgun during the conduct of his or her duties.

e.         Except when responding to an act of violence or an imminent threat of violence at the school, keeps the handgun concealed at all times while on the school grounds. For purposes of this subdivision, the term violence means physical injury that a reasonable person would conclude could lead to permanent injury or death.

f.          Submits to annual drug testing.

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(m)       The governing body or entity of a school may opt out of the authority granted under subdivision (8) of subsection (g) of this section and prohibit a person from possessing a handgun pursuant to the authority in subdivision (8) of subsection (g) of this section on the grounds of the school or schools under its control.

SECTION 3.  G.S. 17C‑6(a) reads as rewritten:

(a)      In addition to powers conferred upon the Commission elsewhere in this Chapter, the Commission shall have the following powers, which shall be enforceable through its rules and regulations, certification procedures, or the provisions of G.S. 17C‑10:

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(21)      Establish and administer the School Faculty Guardian program, which provides active shooter training to volunteer school faculty guardians, as defined under G.S. 14‑269.2.

SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.