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School Marshals Get Final Approval In State Legislature

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A bill creating school marshals is headed to the Governor for his signature. The state Senate gave final approval to the bill today.

The idea for armed school marshals was proposed after the Sandy Hook Elementary school shootings last December.

The bill would allow schools without their own security to appoint marshals from among employees with concealed handgun licenses.

Republican Kelly Hancock from North Richland Hills sponsored the bill in the senate.  

“School marshals would be allowed to carry a concealed handgun on campuses and be subject to the regulations of peace officers," Hancock told his colleagues from the senate floor. "Their firearms would remain locked in a safe and within immediate reach, if he or she works in the classroom or in direct presence of the children.”

Under the bill only the principal and law enforcement would know the identities of the school marshals. The state would pay for training.

The House version by Dallas Republican Jason Villalbapassed earlier this month.   

Former KERA reporter BJ Austin spent more than 25 years in broadcast journalism, anchoring and reporting in Atlanta, New York, New Orleans and Dallas. Along the way, she covered Atlanta City Hall, the Georgia Legislature and the corruption trials of Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards.