SB 402 — AN ACT REVISING THE DEFINITION OF "RETIRED POLICE OFFICER" FOR PURPOSES OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS REGARDING SCHOOL SECURITY SERVICES.

Senate General Assembly RaisedFile Bill No.

402301 February Session, 2026 LCOSenate Bill No.

1436402 ReferredSenate, toApril 1, 2026 The Committee on PUBLICPublic SAFETYSafety ANDand SECURITYSecurity Introducedreported by:through SEN.

(PS)GASTON ANof ACTthe REVISING23rd THEDist., DEFINITIONChairperson OFof "RETIREDthe POLICECommittee OFFICER"on FORthe PURPOSESpart OFof CERTAINthe PROVISIONSSenate, REGARDINGthat SCHOOLthe SECURITYbill SERVICES.ought to pass.

AN ACT REVISING THE DEFINITION OF "RETIRED POLICE OFFICER" FOR PURPOSES OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS REGARDING SCHOOL SECURITY SERVICES.

(b) A municipality or a local or regional board of education may employ or enter into an agreement with a retired police officer to provideSB402 security/ servicesFile in a public school if such retired police officer is a qualified retired law enforcement officer,as defined in 18 USC 926C, LCO 1436 1 of 3 Raised Bill No.

402301 as1 amendedSB402 fromFile timeNo. to time.

301 provide security services in a public school if such retired police officer is a qualified retired law enforcement officer,as defined in 18 USC 926C, as amended from time to time.

Section 1 October 1, 2026 10-244a PSSB402 Joint/ FavorableFile LCO 1436 2 of 3 Raised Bill No.

402301 LCO2 1436SB402 3File ofNo. 3

301 PS Joint Favorable SB402 / File No.

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301 The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.

In general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill specifies that school districts cannot hire security or police officers who will possess a firearm if they are prohibited from being hired by a law enforcement unit.

The bill has no fiscal impact as it is not expected to increase security costs incurred by school districts.

The Out Years State Impact:

None Municipal Impact:

None SB402 / File No.

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301 OLR Bill Analysis SB 402 AN ACT REVISING THE DEFINITION OF "RETIRED POLICE OFFICER" FOR PURPOSES OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS REGARDING SCHOOL SECURITY SERVICES.

SUMMARY This bill disqualifies anyone who is prohibited from being hired by a law enforcement unit from being hired to provide armed security services in public schools as a retired police officer.

Existing law, unchanged by the bill, limits who a municipality or board of education can employ or contract with for these services to (1) sworn members of local police departments and (2) retired police officers.

By law, law enforcement units cannot hire someone who was previously employed as a police officer and (1) was dismissed for malfeasance or serious misconduct calling into question his or her fitness to serve as an officer or (2) resigned or retired during an investigation into such conduct.

In addition to the bill’s disqualification, existing law generally limits who can qualify as a retired police officer to those who (1) served with a local police department, the State Police, a federal law enforcement agency, or an out-of-state police department, (2) left in good standing, and (3) are a “qualified retired law enforcement officer” under the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

October 1, 2026 BACKGROUND Malfeasance and Serious Misconduct Under existing law, “malfeasance” has its common meaning (i.e.

a wrongful, unlawful, or dishonest act) and “serious misconduct” means SB402 / File No.

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301 anofficer’simproperorillegalactionsconnectedwithofficialdutiesthat could cause a miscarriage of justice or discrimination, such as a felony conviction, evidence fabrication, repeated use of excessive force, bribe acceptance, or fraud.

Related Bills sSB 397, § 11, favorably reported by the Judiciary Committee, modifies the law restricting law enforcement unit hirings so that it applies against specified peace officers instead of police officers.

sHB 5323, § 6, favorably reported by the Education Committee, (1) allows qualifying former parole officers, under certain conditions, to be armed security guards in public schools and (2) makes retired officers who left due to disciplinary action or while under investigation or while a disciplinary action was pending ineligible to provide these services.

COMMITTEE ACTION Public Safety and Security Committee Joint Favorable Yea 29 Nay 0 (03/17/2026) SB402 / File No.

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