School districts and open-enrollment charter schools may appoint school marshals, and marshals may carry or possess a handgun only under specified rules.
Sec. 37.0811. SCHOOL MARSHALS: PUBLIC SCHOOLS. (a) The board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of an open-enrollment charter school may appoint one or more school marshals for each campus. (b) The board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of an open-enrollment charter school may select for appointment as a school marshal under this section an applicant who is an employee of the school district or open-enrollment charter school and certified as eligible for appointment under Section 1701.260, Occupations Code. The board of trustees or governing body may, but shall not be required to, reimburse the amount paid by the applicant to participate in the training program under that section. (c) A school marshal appointed by the board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of an open-enrollment charter school may carry or possess a handgun on the physical premises of a school, but only: (1) in the manner provided by written regulations adopted by the board of trustees or the governing body; and (2) at a specific school as specified by the board of trustees or governing body, as applicable. (d) Any written regulations adopted for purposes of Subsection (c) must: (1) provide that a school marshal may: (A) carry a concealed handgun on the school marshal's person; (B) if wearing a uniform identifying the marshal as a school marshal, openly carry a handgun on the school marshal's person; or (C) possess the handgun on the physical premises of a school in a locked and secured safe or other locked and secured location; and (2) require that a handgun carried or possessed by a school marshal be loaded only with frangible duty ammunition approved for that purpose by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. (e) A school marshal may use a handgun the school marshal is authorized to carry or possess under this section only under circumstances that would justify the use of deadly force under Section 9.32 or 9.33, Penal Code. (f) A school district or charter school employee's status as a school marshal becomes inactive on: (1) expiration of the employee's school marshal license under Section 1701.260, Occupations Code; (2) suspension or revocation of the employee's license to carry a handgun issued under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code; (3) termination of the employee's employment with the district or charter school; or (4) notice from the board of trustees of the district or the governing body of the charter school that the employee's services as school marshal are no longer required. (g) The identity of a school marshal appointed under this section is confidential, except as provided by Section 1701.260(j), Occupations Code, and is not subject to a request under Chapter 552, Government Code. (h) If a parent or guardian of a student enrolled at a school inquires in writing, the school district or open-enrollment charter school shall provide the parent or guardian written notice indicating whether any employee of the school is currently appointed a school marshal. The notice may not disclose information that is confidential under Subsection (g). Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 655 (H.B. 1009), Sec. 3, eff. June 14, 2013. Amended by: Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 437 (H.B. 910), Sec. 8, eff. January 1, 2016. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1176 (S.B. 996), Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 2015. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 988 (H.B. 867), Sec. 2, eff. June 15, 2017. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 988 (H.B. 867), Sec. 3, eff. June 15, 2017. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 463 (H.B. 1387), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2019. Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 851 (S.B. 741), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2021. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 44 (S.B. 870), Sec. 1, eff. May 19, 2025.