Utah Code § 53G-8-701.6 — Utah Code / Title 53G / Chapter 53G-8 / § 53G-8-701.6
§ 53G-8-701.6. School safety and security specialist.
Status: in_force

(1) As used in this section: (a) "Principal" means the chief administrator at a public school, including: (i) a school principal; (ii) a charter school director; or (iii) the superintendent of the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind. (b) "Teacher" means an individual employed by a local education agency who has an assignment to teach in a classroom. (2) (a) Subject to Subsection (2)(b) and except as provided in Subsection 53G-8-701.5(3), every campus within an LEA shall designate a school safety and security specialist from the employees of the relevant campus. (b) The school safety and security specialist: (i) may not be a principal or a teacher; and (ii) may be the school safety and security director at one campus within the LEA. (3) The school safety and security specialist shall: (a) report directly to the principal; (b) oversee school safety and security practices to ensure a safe and secure school environment for students and staff; (c) ensure adherence with all policies, procedures, protocols, rules, and regulations relating to school safety and security through collaborating and maintaining effective communications with the following as applicable: (i) the principal; (ii) school staff; (iii) the school resource officer; (iv) the armed school security guard; (v) the school guardian; (vi) local law enforcement; (vii) the county security chief regarding a school other than the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind; (viii) the school safety and security director; (ix) the LEA; and (x) school-based behavioral and mental health professionals; (d) in collaboration with the county security chief or, regarding the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, the state security chief, and with the local law enforcement of relevant jurisdiction over the school as described in Section 53-25-701: (i) conduct the school safety needs assessment described in Section 53G-8-701.5; (ii) in accordance with Sections 53-25-701 and 53G-8-701.5, submit the completed assessments to the School Safety Center created in Section 53G-8-802 by October 15 of each year; and (iii) review the results of the school safety needs assessment to recommend and implement improvements to school facilities, policies, procedures, protocols, rules, and regulations relating to school safety and security; (e) participate on the multidisciplinary team that the school establishes; (f) conduct a behavioral threat assessment when the school safety and security specialist deems necessary using an evidence-based tool the state security chief recommends in consultation with the School Safety Center and the Office of Substance Use and Mental Health; (g) regularly monitor and report to the principal, local law enforcement, and, if applicable, the LEA superintendent or designee, security risks for the school resulting from: (i) issues with school facilities; or (ii) the implementation of practices, policies, procedures, and protocols relating to school safety and security; (h) coordinate with local first responder agencies to implement and monitor safety and security drills in accordance with policy and applicable procedures and protocols; (i) ensure that school staff, and, when appropriate, students, receive training on and remain current on the school's safety and security procedures and protocols; (j) following an event where security of the school has been significantly compromised, organize a debriefing with the individuals listed in Subsection (3)(c) following the recommendations from the state security chief, in collaboration with the School Safety Center, regarding strengthening school safety and security practices, policies, procedures, and protocols; (k) abide by any LEA, school, or law enforcement agency policy outlining the chain of command; (l) during an emergency, coordinate with the following individuals as applicable, the: (i) school resource officer; (ii) school guardians; (iii) armed school security guards; (iv) school administrators; and (v) responding law enforcement officers; (m) follow any LEA, school, or law enforcement agency student privacy policies, including state and federal privacy laws; (n) participate in an annual training the state security chief selects in consultation with the School Safety Center; and (o) remain current on: (i) a comprehensive school guideline the state security chief selects; (ii) the duties of a school safety and security specialist described in this Subsection (3); and (iii) the school's emergency response plan. (4) During an active emergency at the school, the school safety and security specialist is subordinate to any responding law enforcement officers.