MONTGOMERY - The Alabama Senate has approved a bill to allow current and retired teachers and other Franklin County residents to become part of an armed and police-trained school security force.

Rep. Johnny Mack Morrow’s bill makes it voluntary for teachers to become reserve sheriff’s deputies or reserve police officers and puts the responsibility of training and supervising the “emergency security force” on local law enforcement.

The bill passed the House earlier this month and now goes to Gov. Robert Bentley. If he signs it, it will take effect immediately.

Teachers would not be paid more for serving on the force and any costs associated with training and equipping them would be paid by the local school districts.

Morrow, D-Red Bay, proposed the idea of making school teachers reserve officers in the days following the Newtown, Conn., school shooting.

Morrow says some Franklin County schools are 20 to 30 minutes away from police and other responders if there is an emergency.