S.Amdt. 5131

1. Adds SEC. __. TRAINING AND HIRING VETERANS AND FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AS SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICERS wherever appropriate

   Adds a section

   Inserted: SEC. __. TRAINING AND HIRING VETERANS AND FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AS SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICERS.

   Inserted: (a) Definitions.--In this section:

   Inserted: (1) ESSER funds.--The term "ESSER funds" means funds provided under--

   Inserted: (A) section 18003 of the CARES Act (20 U.S.C. 3401 note; Public Law 116-136);

   Inserted: (B) section 313 of division M of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260; 134 Stat. 1929); or

   Inserted: (C) section 2001 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2; 135 Stat. 19).

   Inserted: (2) State.--The term "State" means each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

   Inserted: (b) Training and Hiring Veterans and Former Law Enforcement Officers as School Security Officers.--Notwithstanding any other provision of a law relating to ESSER funds or any other law, a State or local educational agency that has received ESSER funds may, in lieu of the original requested, required, or authorized use for such funds, use a portion of, or all, of the unexpended funds to carry out any of the following activities:

   Inserted: (1) Establish, if necessary, and implement a State certification or licensure program, or other training program required by the State, that--

   Inserted: (A) is designed to train individuals who are veterans or former law enforcement officers to serve as school security officers; and

   Inserted: (B) may include firearm or de-escalation training.

   Inserted: (2) Hire veterans or former law enforcement officers who have completed the State's program described in paragraph (1) to serve as school security officers in elementary schools and secondary schools in the State.

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   Inserted: (c) No Federal Interference.--The Secretary of Education shall not--

   Inserted: (1) prevent or discourage any State or local educational agency from using any ESSER funds for a school security activity described in subsection (b);

   Inserted: (2) impose any requirements as to the content or structure of the State certification, licensure, or other training program described in subsection (b)(1);

   Inserted: (3) require that ESSER funds used to carry out subsection (b) be used to prevent, prepare for, or respond to the coronavirus; or

   Inserted: (4) enforce any requirement related to ESSER funds if such requirement would prevent a State or local educational agency from carrying out a school security activity described in subsection (b).

   The amendment doesn't say where this goes; the clerk decides.

   Original wording

   At the appropriate place, insert the following:

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As printed