This bill proposes to amend current statutes by adding a new section, 15-154.03, to the Arizona Revised Statutes, which will require each school district and charter school to establish and maintain interoperable communications capabilities. The new requirements include mechanisms for real-time notification of local law enforcement during emergencies, secure transmission of school maps and floor plans, and real-time communication with law enforcement. Additionally, it exempts schools using an existing secure multimedia data communications system from establishing a new system, provided it meets the new requirements.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that by July 1, 2027, and annually thereafter, each school district and charter school must submit an affidavit to the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) confirming compliance with the interoperable communications capabilities. The ADE is tasked with developing guidelines to assist schools, compiling the submitted affidavits, and providing an annual report on statewide interoperability readiness to key state officials.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-154.03
Senate Engrossed Version: 15-154.03