House Bill 153 would strip school district police officers of the legal designation of "law enforcement" officers in the state's Public Safety Code and allow school districts to contract for security with local police departments.

"Should education dollars be going to law enforcement?" asked sponsoring Rep. Sheryl Allen, R-Bountiful. "I've come to the conclusion that the public is probably better served if they contract with local law enforcement."

Members of the House Law Enforcement Committee left the contracting option open to school districts, but deleted from the bill language limiting school district police officers' jurisdiction to within 1,000 feet of a school. Also removed: a provision requiring Granite School District to evaluate the cost effectiveness of its $1.6 million police department and report back to lawmakers by Aug. 21, 2006.

Democratic Holladay Rep. Patricia Jones says the Granite police should be preserved, despite the controversial case of an officer chasing and shooting a suspect last October. "This police department has been effective in reducing crime."

- Rebecca Walsh