A. The city council or board of trustees for a city or municipality may, through a majority vote of the council or board, designate city or municipality personnel who have been issued a handgun license pursuant to the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act to attend an armed security guard training program, as provided for in Section 1750.5 of Title 59 of the Oklahoma Statutes, or a reserve peace officer certification program, as provided for in Section 3311 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes, provided and developed by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET). Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit or limit the city council or board of trustees of a city or municipality from requiring ongoing education and training.

B. Participation in either the armed security guard training program or the reserve peace officer certification program shall be voluntary and shall not in any way be considered a requirement for continued employment with the city or municipality. The city council or board of trustees of a city or municipality shall have the final authority to determine and designate personnel who will be authorized to obtain and use an armed security guard license or reserve peace officer certification in conjunction with their employment as city or municipality personnel.

C. The city council or board of trustees of a city or municipality that authorizes personnel to participate in either the armed security guard program or the reserve peace officer program may pay all necessary training, meal and lodging expenses associated with the training.

D. When carrying a firearm pursuant to this act, the person shall at all times carry the firearm on his or her person or the firearm shall be stored in a locked and secure location.

E. Any city or municipality personnel who have successfully completed either training and while acting in a reasonable and prudent manner shall be immune from civil and criminal liability for any injury resulting from the carrying of a handgun onto city or municipality property as provided in this act. Any municipality, city council, board of trustees or participating local law enforcement agency shall be immune from civil and criminal liability for any injury resulting from any act committed by the city or municipality personnel who are designated to carry a concealed handgun on public city or municipality property pursuant to the provisions of this act.

F. In order to carry out the provisions of this section, the city council or board of trustees of a city or municipality is authorized to enter into a memorandum of understanding with local law enforcement entities.

Added by Laws 2019, c. 355, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2019.