Connecticut HB 5323: AN ACT CONCERNING VARIOUS REVISIONS TO THE EDUCATION STATUTES.
Status: SIGNED BY GOVERNOR (as of 2026-06-04)
State: Connecticut · Session: 2026 · Bill: HB 5323
Subjects: Advisory bodies, After school activities, Arts, Assessments, Auditors of public accounts, Audits, Boards of education, Bridgeport, Career entry and mobility program, Charter schools, Child abuse and neglect reports of cases, Child mental, emotional and behavioral health, Children, Contractors, Criminal history records, Disclosure, Eating disorders, Education Department, Electronic government information, Firearms, Food, Grants by the state, Litchfield, Magnet schools, Mathematics, Mentoring, Municipalities, Parole officers, Pilots, Plans, Police, Reports, School administrators, School districts, School employees, School health services, School security, School sports, Schools, Sex offenses, Standards, Student performance, Students, Task forces, Women, Children, Seniors, Equity and Opportunity, Commission on
Sponsors: Jason Rojas, Stephen G. Harding, Bobby G. Gibson, Trenee Mcgee, Anthony L. Nolan, Karen Reddington-hughes, John-michael Parker, Kai J. Belton, Hector Arzeno, Tom O'dea, Tracy Marra, John A. Kissel
Bill Text
Substitute House Bill No. 5323 Public Act No. 26-139 AN ACT CONCERNING VARIOUS REVISIONS TO THE EDUCATION STATUTES. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: Section 1. Section 10-244a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): (a) For the school year commencing July 1, 2013, and each school year thereafter, no municipality or local or regional board of education may employ or enter into an agreement, as described in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 53a-217b, with any person, other than a sworn member of an organized local police department or a retired [police] officer as provided in subsection (b) of this section, to provide security services in a public school if such person will possess a firearm, as defined in section 53a-3, while in the performance of his or her duties. (b) A municipality or a local or regional board of education may employ or enter into an agreement with a retired [police] officer to provide security services in a public school if such retired [police] officer is a (1) qualified retired law enforcement officer, as defined in 18 USC 926C, as amended from time to time, or (2) parole officer who meets the qualifications specified for a qualified retired law enforcement officer under 18 USC 926C, as applicable to a parole officer. Such retired Substitute House Bill No. 5323 Public Act No. 26-139 2 of 17 [police] officer shall receive annual training pursuant to section 7-294x and shall successfully complete annual firearms training provided by a certified firearms instructor that meets or exceeds the standards of the Police Officer Standards and Training Council or 18 USC 926C, as amended from time to time. Such retired [police] officer shall not be subject to the licensing requirements of part II of chapter 534. (c) For the purposes of subsection (b) of this section, ["retired police officer"] (1) "retired officer" means [(1)] (A) a sworn member of an organized local police department who was certified by the Police Officer Standards and Training Council, [and] retired or separated in good standing from such department [or] and is not prohibited from being hired by a law enforcement unit pursuant to section 7-291c, (B) a sworn member of the Division of State Police within the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection who retired or separated in good standing from said division [, (2)] and is not prohibited from being hired by a law enforcement unit pursuant to section 7-291c, (C) a sworn federal law enforcement agent who retired or separated in good standing from such federal law enforcement service, is not prohibited from being hired by a law enforcement unit pursuant to section 7-291c and [who] meets or exceeds the standards of the Police Officer Standards and Training Council for certification in this state, [or (3)] (D) a sworn officer of an organized police department in another state who was certified under standards that meet or exceed the standards of the Police Officer Standards and Training Council for certification in this state, [and who] retired or separated in good standing from such department and is not prohibited from being hired by a law enforcement unit pursuant to section 7-291c, or (E) a parole officer who retired or separated in good standing from the Department of Correction, and (2) "good standing" means the status of a police officer whose employment in a law enforcement unit, as defined in section 7- 294a, or a parole officer whose employment with the Department of Correction, was not terminated as a result of disciplinary action or Substitute House Bill No. 5323 Public Act No. 26-139 3 of 17 during a period when such police officer or parole officer was under investigation or disciplinary action was pending. Sec. 2. (Effective July 1, 2026) (a) The Connecticut Advisory Council for School Administrator Professional Standards, established pursuant to section 10-144e of the general statutes, in consultation with the Connecticut Association of Schools, shall establish a pilot program for a new school administrator mentorship program. Such pilot program shall include, but need not be limited to, supports, training and professional development for new school administrators. Not later than July 1, 2027, the council shall report the plan for implementation of the pilot program to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes. (b)
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