A teacher engages in an exercise designed to help teachers make good decisions in critical, high-stress situations, such as an active shooter incident during the teachers' academy training at the Utah County Sheriffs Office shooting range in June 2019. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)
Instructors appointed by county sheriffs would lead the training, which, according to the bill, would cost the Department of Public Safety about $100,000 annually.
The bill has divided Utah residents.
Clark Aposhian, a member of the Utah Shooting Sports Council, told FOX13 Salt Lake City that the bill is "a logical next step" since those with concealed carry permits in Utah can already carry firearms in schools.
"But what this does is incentivizes additional very specific classroom type training for defense of a classroom," Aposhian said, adding that teachers are the "first engagers" during a school shooting.
Brian Peterson, a sixth-grade teacher at Lake Ridge Elementary School in Magna, told The Associated Press that the training would be "invaluable."
"Knowing how to defend your classroom, whether it’s with a weapon or improvised weapon, is what teachers need," he said.
Under the bill, annual firearms training would be free for teachers who wish to participate. (AP, File)
Participating teachers who choose not to carry a gun on their person would be required to pay out of pocket for a biometric gun safe, which uses unique biological data such as a fingerprint or retinal scan to verify the owner’s identity.
The bill also states that teachers who participate will be protected from civil liability if they use the gun on campus while "acting in good faith" and without gross negligence. School districts will also be shielded from liability if a participating teacher fires their weapon on school grounds.
The bill will go into effect on May 1 if Republican Gov. Spencer Cox signs it into law.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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