House passes bill allowing private schools to hire school resource officers

Last week, the Alabama House of Representatives passed SB4, a bill introduced by Sen. Chris Elliott, R-District 32, which would allow private schools to make contracts with local law enforcement to hire school resource officers, SROs.

Under the legislation, private schools will only be able to make such contracts after “the services of a school resource officer are [made] available to every public school in the county or municipality where the contracted services would be provided.” The school would be responsible for the total cost of employing an SRO.

Rep. Russell Bedsole, R-District 49, who represented the legislation on the House floor, explained that it would be up to the discretion of local law enforcement whether or not they enter into any such contracts.

Rep. Mary Moore, D-Birmingham, expressed concerns that the legislation might have implications for local law police departments’ available manpower. However, Moore appeared satisfied by Bedsole’s argument that these contracts would provide law enforcement with additional resources with which they could hire new staff if needed.

The effectiveness of SROs at increasing school safety is debated. A 2024 article published by the Gun Policy in America Initiative highlights the pros and cons of employing school resource officers.

“The presence of SROs may reduce some types of crime and increase the detection of weapons and drugs on campus. However, research has also shown that the presence of SROs inflicts costs on students,” the authors state. “Students at schools with SROs are more likely to face disciplinary action by school administrations and more law enforcement contact in general. Black and Latino students may be particularly affected. Thus, SROs may play a role in the criminalization of student behavior, particularly for students of color.”

“Given the costs associated with SROs, it is worth asking whether alternatives are available that can reduce disruptive behavior in schools without the negative consequences associated with SROs. In addition, more research on the training and deployment of SROs could identify ways to maximize the potential benefits and minimize the potential costs,” the article concludes.

The bill passed the House unanimously and will now go to the governor’s desk where it will likely be signed into law.