HB2752 prioritizes veterans and retired law enforcement officers for service as school resource officers by amending the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968. It broadens the permissible uses of COPS grants to recruit and train these officers as SROs.
It also adds a mental health screening and training requirement and creates a framework for coordination with the Department of Veterans Affairs to connect veterans with SRO opportunities.
At a Glance
What It Does
The bill expands COPS grant uses to hire and train veterans and retired law enforcement officers as school resource officers, and adds a mental health screening and annual training provision. It also creates a preferential grant criterion for veteran SRO hires and expands the SRO definition.
Who It Affects
State and local law enforcement agencies applying for COPS grants, school districts and schools employing SROs, veterans and retired officers seeking SRO roles, and tribal governments that participate in SRO partnerships.
Why It Matters
It builds a veteran-focused pipeline for SROs, strengthens school safety through targeted training and mental health oversight, and formalizes coordination with the VA to place qualified veterans in SRO roles.
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What This Bill Actually Does
The bill begins by allowing federal COPS grant funds to be used specifically to hire and train veterans and retired law enforcement officers to serve as school resource officers (SROs). It amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to insert this new purpose alongside existing grant uses.
This creates a dedicated route for veterans to fill SRO positions and leverages their experience to bolster school safety and outreach in districts that rely on SROs.
Next, HB2752 adds a new grant-application criterion that gives preferential consideration to applicants who hire and train veterans and retired officers as SROs. This nudge is designed to accelerate veteran participation in SRO programs, provided that other statutory requirements are met.The bill also requires mental health screening and annual training for SROs, allowing the Attorney General to provide technical assistance to states, local governments, tribes, and related entities to implement these protections using funds available under the act.
This emphasis on mental health aims to improve officer readiness and student safety while addressing welfare concerns in the school environment.In terms of definitions, the act expands the term “career law enforcement officer” to explicitly include veterans and retired officers and adds a new obligation for annual, constructive engagement with students to build familiarity and trust between students and officers. Finally, the bill directs coordination with the Department of Veterans Affairs to connect veterans seeking SRO roles with local agencies participating in school-based partnerships, tying veteran transition pathways to on-the-ground school safety roles.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The bill expands permissible uses of COPS grants to hire and train veterans and retired officers as school resource officers.
It creates a new preferential grant consideration criterion for veteran SRO hires.
It authorizes the Attorney General to provide annual mental health screening and training for SROs using act funds.
It broadens the definitions to include veterans and retired LEOs as eligible SRO candidates and adds student-officer engagement requirements.
It requires coordination between the Department of Veterans Affairs and grant recipients to place veterans in SRO roles through school partnerships.
Section-by-Section Breakdown
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Expand COPS grant uses to hire veterans as SROs
Section 2 amends 1701(b)(13) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to insert a new purpose after the word 'offenses': hiring and training veterans and retired law enforcement officers to serve as school resource officers. This makes veteran SRO recruitment an authorized use of funds and creates a direct channel for districts and agencies to staff schools with veteran personnel trained for SRO duties. The practical effect is a formalized funding pathway that can accelerate veteran participation in school safety programs.
Preferential grant consideration for veterans as SROs
Section 3 amends 1701(c) by adding a new paragraph (4) to establish preferential consideration in grant awards for those who hire and train veterans and retired officers as SROs. The mechanism is designed to tilt competitive grant decisions toward applicants prioritizing veteran SRO hiring. This change aligns grant administration with the broader objective of building a veteran-led safety presence in schools, subject to existing evaluation criteria and statutory safeguards.
Mental health screening and SRO training
Section 4 amends 1701(d) to add a new paragraph (4) authorizing the Attorney General to provide technical assistance to states, local governments, tribal governments, and other eligible entities to implement annual mental health screenings and annual training on tactics and response for SROs. Funded under the act, this provision links safety operations with mental health oversight, intending to improve on-scene decision-making and officer welfare while supporting school communities.
Definitions — veterans and retired LEOs included
Section 5 expands the definition of terms used in the act, clarifying that veterans and retired law enforcement officers are covered by the provisions governing SRO deployments. It introduces an additional clause (H) to require officers to meet annually with students to foster familiarity and community engagement, reinforcing the relationship-building aspect of SRO programs and aligning with broader safety and trust goals.
Coordination with VA on SRO pipeline
Section 6 directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to coordinate with recipients of grants under part Q to connect veterans seeking SRO roles with local law enforcement agencies participating in school-based partnerships described in 1701(b)(12). This creates a cross-agency pipeline to place veterans in SRO positions, leveraging federal grant programs and interagency cooperation to support veteran transition into school-based safety roles.
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Who Benefits
- Veterans and retirees seeking school resource officer roles, who gain a clear funding channel and training pathway.
- Local and state law enforcement agencies that receive COPS grants, which are enhanced by a veteran talent pool and targeted training.
- School districts and schools seeking reliable, experienced SROs to enhance safety and relationship-building with students.
- Indiana tribal governments and other tribal authorities that operate school partnerships and can leverage SRO programs.
- Students and communities benefiting from increased visibility and engagement with trained, vetted officers in school settings.
Who Bears the Cost
- States and local governments must administer expanded training programs and mental health screening, with some costs absorbed by federal grants.
- Grant administrators and agencies will face additional compliance and reporting requirements to track veteran SRO placements and training outcomes.
- Tribal governments may incur costs to implement coordination efforts under Section 6, including partnership development and data-sharing.
- School districts may incur transitional costs as veterans and retirees are integrated into SRO rosters and annual engagement activities.
Key Issues
The Core Tension
Balancing expanded SRO staffing and veteran participation with funding adequacy, training quality, and civil liberties concerns in school environments.
The bill couples safety enhancements with workforce and welfare considerations, introducing a veteran-first approach to SRO staffing while imposing new obligations around mental health screening and ongoing student engagement. The practical implications include potential increases in grant demand, the need for robust training programs, and the necessity of managing privacy and civil rights concerns tied to health screenings and personnel assignments.
Effective implementation will require clear interagency processes, adequate funding, and careful oversight to ensure SROs perform with appropriate authority and within the bounds of school policies and state laws. The interplay between veteran recruitment, mental health requirements, and cross-agency coordination will determine how smoothly the program scales across districts of varying size and resources.
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