The proposed bill establishes a new School Mapping Data Program within the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to enhance emergency response capabilities on school campuses. It mandates the development of standardized requirements for school mapping data, ensuring that the data is accurate, accessible, and compatible with public safety agency software. Schools will be required to create and annually review their mapping data, which must include detailed floor plans, site-specific labels, and critical utility locations. Additionally, the bill specifies that this mapping data will not be considered a public record, thus exempting it from public disclosure.

The bill also creates a School Mapping Data Program Fund, which will be administered by ADE and funded through legislative appropriations and other sources. A total of $10,360,000 is appropriated from the state General Fund for fiscal year 2025-2026 to support this initiative. Schools can apply for grants from this fund to cover the costs associated with developing the required mapping data. The bill further clarifies the definition of "school" to include only public schools offering instruction from kindergarten through grade 12.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-231.01
Senate Engrossed Version: 15-231.01