The Lone Star College board of trustees approved 15 recommendations relating to Campus Carry during a March 2 board meeting.

The recommendations can be broken down into four categories, according to Rand Key, LSCS police commissioner and Campus Carry Task Force chair.

Recommendations 1-9: regulations for gun free exclusionary zones
Recommendations 10-11: responsibilities for license to carry holders
Recommendations 12-14: LSCS community education and training
Recommendation 15: campus carry safety advisory committee

These recommendations were suggested and approved in response to Senate Bill 11—or the campus carry law—which relates to the carrying of handguns on campuses and locations associated with higher learning institutions.

SB 11 was passed in June 2015 and was authored by local legislators Paul Bettencourt, Brandon Creighton and Lois Kolkhorst, among others.

While the effective date of this law, as well as the LSCS recommendations, is Aug. 1, some board trustees expressed concerns about its implementation during the meeting.

“Campus Carry is a terrible bill,” trustee Myriam Saldivar said. “I do not believe that weapons should be in education institutions, but we have it and we have to work with it.”

LSCS Chancellor Steve Head said to increase safety and security on campuses within the college system, more funds will be directed toward increased police coverage in the 2017-18 budget.

During public forums held during the fall 2016 semester to discuss these recommendations, Key said the main goal will be to implement these changes as seamlessly as possible.

During the spring and summer 2017 semesters, LSCS faculty, staff and students can expect gun free zones to be identified, Key said. The task force is also working to prepare learning materials to be completed before the Aug. 1 campus carry implementation date.

To view each of the 15 recommendations, visit www.lonestar.edu/campuscarry.