An Act To Allow School Resource Officers To Have Jurisdiction at Off-site Events
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1516
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: GROHMAN, CUSHING, CHENETTE, HUBBELL, WOODSOME

Legislative Document 
No. 1516 
H.P. 1041 
House of Representatives, January 6, 2016 
An Act To Allow School Resource Officers To Have Jurisdiction at 
Off-site Events 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative GROHMAN of Biddeford. 
Cosponsored by Senator CUSHING of Penobscot and 
Representatives: CHENETTE of Saco, HUBBELL of Bar Harbor, Senator: WOODSOME of 
York. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, school resource officers are designated local law enforcement officers 
who provide security and crime prevention in the school environment; and 
Whereas, schools often hold school activities, such as proms, at off-campus 
locations where the school resource officer has no law enforcement jurisdiction; and 
Whereas, this legislation needs to take effect immediately in order to ensure that for 
upcoming events in the current school year a school resource officer at an off-campus 
event is the same officer who works with that student population on a regular basis; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA c. 223, sub-c. 10 is enacted to read: 
SUBCHAPTER 10 
SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS 
§6681.  School resource officers 
A school administrative unit may accept from a local law enforcement agency with 
jurisdiction over a school's premises a law enforcement officer certified pursuant to Title 
25, chapter 341 as a school resource officer to assist with school security, safety, 
emergency preparedness, emergency response or any other responsibility assigned to the 
school resource officer by the school or the local law enforcement agency. 
§6682.  Enforcement powers 
A school administrative unit may authorize a school resource officer under section 
6681 to enforce laws relating to crimes committed at a school activity located on or off 
school premises or on a school bus operating off school premises when the activity or 
school bus is not within the school resource officer's jurisdiction upon the execution of a 
memorandum of understanding with the municipal law enforcement agency and county 
sheriff's office that has law enforcement jurisdiction over the school's premises and the 
municipal law enforcement agency and county sheriff's office that has law enforcement 
jurisdiction over the location of the school activity. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill allows a school resource officer to enforce laws relating to crimes 
committed on school premises and at other locations where that school's activities are 
occurring.