Lawmakers pass school safety bill for Ala. county

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The Alabama Senate gave final passage Tuesday to a bill that allows teachers and other school workers in a rural northwest Alabama county to be trained as reserve sheriff's deputies and carry firearms on campus.

Supporters say training teachers as reserve deputies in the Franklin County and Russellville school systems would help prevent violence in the area's mostly rural schools. It is a response to the cry for school safety following the recent shooting at a Connecticut elementary school. The bill was sponsored by Democratic Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow of Red Bay and Democratic Sen. Roger Bedford of Russellville.

Bedford says the bill lets school officials decide if they want to participate. The legislation now goes to Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley for his review.