Senate Bill No. 229 (File No. 137) proposes the creation of a School Mapping Data Grant Program, which would be overseen by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. The program is designed to provide grants to local or regional boards of education for the creation of school mapping data that is compatible with software platforms used by public safety agencies and schools, without requiring additional software purchases. The mapping data must be in both printable and digital formats, verified for accuracy, and include detailed site-specific information. The bill requires the department to establish eligibility criteria and application procedures by October 1, 2024, and mandates annual reporting on the program starting January 1, 2026. The bill is effective upon passage and introduces new legal language to the existing law.

The bill specifies that the school mapping data must include detailed floor plans, current aerial imagery, and labels for various features such as rooms, hazards, utilities, and emergency equipment. It also requires that the data be oriented true north with gridded coordinates and cannot be modified independently, ensuring that updates are consistent across public safety platforms. The data is to be provided to the school board and public safety agencies at no additional cost beyond the initial production. The Public Safety and Security Committee has given the bill a Joint Favorable report with a unanimous vote of 23 yeas and 0 nays on March 12, 2024.