Bill Summaries: S343 (2023-2024 Session)

Tracking:
  • Summary date: Mar 21 2023 - View summary

    Amends GS 14-269.2 (which prohibits weapons on campus or other educational property) by adding and defining the following terms: school administrative director and school board of trustees. Adds to the exemptions from the statute persons who are employees or volunteers of a private school meeting all of the following criteria: (1) the person has written authorization from the school board of trustees or the school administrative director to possess and carry a firearm or stun gun on the educational property that is owned, used, or operated by the private school; (2) the weapon is a firearm or stun gun; (2) the person has a concealed handgun permit issued in accordance with Article 54B of GS Chapter 14 or deemed valid under GS 14-415.24 (pertaining to reciprocity for out-of-state handgun permits); (3) the person has successfully completed the annual training requirement, under the direct supervision of a certified National Rifle Association instructor or the equivalent, a minimum of eight hours of courses on, or relating to, gun safety and the appropriate use of firearms that is in addition to the firearms training and safety course required for a concealed handgun permit that is one of the criteria for issuance of a permit set forth by  GS 14-415.12; (4) the private school adopts and maintains written standard operating procedures regarding the possession and carrying of the weapons listed in this subdivision on the educational property and distributes to the parents of students attending the private school copies of the written standard operating procedures on an annual basis; and (5) the person is on the premises of the educational property that is owned, used, or operated by the private school at which the person is an employee or volunteer. Also adds an exemption for persons in a place of religious worship located on the educational property owned, used, or operated by the membership of the place of religious worship while the person is attending worship services, funeral services, wedding ceremonies, Christenings, religious fellowships, and any other sacerdotal functions at the place of religious worship. Defines place of religious worship and attending. Effective December 1, 2023, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.