SCHOOL SAFETY DIVISION IN DPS

This bill creates a new School Safety Division within the New Mexico Department of Public Safety to assist public schools and charter schools with safety policies and security staffing. The division will coordinate with local law enforcement and training agencies to help recruit and retain school resource officers and security personnel, while also developing specialized training curricula for these roles. To support these efforts, the legislation establishes a dedicated program fund and appropriates $50 million to provide grants to school districts for hiring and retaining security staff. The bill also defines the division's responsibilities, including administering other programs for the physical protection of students at public schools.