31-54-2. Law enforcement powers; required training; carrying of weapon.

On the campus of a hospital, a hospital peace officer employed by such hospital who is certified as provided in subsection (b) of this Code section and who is authorized by the governing body or authority of such hospital shall have the same law enforcement powers, including the power of arrest, as a law enforcement officer of the local government with police jurisdiction over such hospital campus; provided, however, that, in any action taken by a hospital peace officer pursuant to this subsection, such officer shall relinquish jurisdiction to a local law enforcement officer of the local government with police jurisdiction over such hospital campus when feasible and as soon as practicable; and provided, further, that, in the case of arrests by hospital peace officers, such officers shall, as soon as practicable, deliver the arrested person or persons to the custody of the sheriff of the county wherein the offense was committed.#

As a condition precedent to the exercise of law enforcement powers pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section, a hospital peace officer shall be certified by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council as having met the qualifications and having completed the basic training requirements for a peace officer under Chapter 8 of Title 35, the “Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Act.” All costs incurred in such certification and training shall be paid by the hospital employing such hospital peace officer.#

This Code section shall not prohibit a hospital from employing hospital security personnel without law enforcement powers.#

Hospital security personnel who are certified by the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council may be authorized by a hospital to carry a standard issue firearm or weapon generally used for law enforcement purposes for the purpose of carrying out law enforcement duties.#