20-7-1335. School marshal program -- qualifications. (1) The board of trustees may appoint an independent contractor or a school district employee to be certified as a school marshal. The appointed employee must be a full-time employee of the district.

(2) A school marshal may be:

(a) employed full-time as a school marshal; or

(b) retained on a full-time or part-time basis and may have other assigned duties in the discretion of the board of trustees.

(3) To be eligible to serve as a school marshal, the independent contractor or school district employee must:

(a) have a permit to carry a concealed weapon pursuant to 45-8-321;

(b) meet the qualifications required for peace officers pursuant to 7-32-303; and

(c) be an active or retired peace officer as defined in 46-1-202.

(4) If an applicant for a school marshal position is an active or retired public safety officer from another state, the applicant must be certified by the Montana public safety officer standards and training council.

(5) For the purposes of 20-7-1335 through 20-7-1338, the following definitions apply:

(a) "Montana public safety officer standards and training council" means the council established in 2-15-2029.

(b) "Public school property" has the meaning provided in 20-1-220.

(c) "School marshal" means a person who is appointed by the board of trustees and employed or retained by a school district to protect the health and safety of persons and to maintain order on public school property.