(A) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, upon express permission given by the appropriate church official or governing body, a person who holds a valid permit issued pursuant to this article may carry a concealable weapon, whether concealed or openly carried, on the leased premises of an elementary or secondary school if a church leases the school premises or areas within the school for church services or official church activities.
(1) The provisions contained in this section apply:
- (a) only during those times that the church has the use and enjoyment of the school property pursuant to its lease with the school; and
- (b) only to the areas of the school within the lease agreement, any related parking areas, or any reasonable ingress or egress between these areas.
- (2) A school district may request that a church utilizing school property for its services disclose and notify the school district if persons are, or may be, carrying concealed weapons on the school property.
- (3) The provisions of this section do not apply during any time students are present as a result of a curricular or extracurricular school-sponsored activity that is taking place on the school property.
- (B) For the purposes of the Federal Gun-Free School Zone Act (18 U.S.C. Section 921(a)), the buildings and grounds of a school that are leased to a church are not considered a school during the hours that the church has the use and enjoyment of the school property pursuant to this section.
HISTORY: 2021 Act No. 66 (H.3094), Section 7, eff August 15, 2021.
Editor's Note
2021 Act No. 66, Section 1, provides as follows:
"SECTION 1. This act may be cited as the 'Open Carry With Training Act'."