Substitute Senate Bill No. 1216, also known as Public Act No. 25-102, establishes a competitive grant program aimed at enhancing school security infrastructure through the collaboration of the Departments of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Administrative Services, and Education. The bill allows various educational entities, including towns, regional educational service centers, state charter schools, and licensed child care centers, to apply for reimbursement for expenses incurred since January 1, 2013. Eligible expenses now include the development or improvement of security infrastructure based on security assessments, such as the installation of surveillance systems and emergency communication devices, as well as training for school personnel on security operations. Notably, the bill expands the scope of reimbursable expenses to include hardware associated with emergency response communications systems and personal emergency communication devices. Additionally, the bill outlines a ranking system based on town wealth to determine the percentage of grant funding available, ranging from twenty to eighty percent, with the Department of Education eligible for grants covering one hundred percent of its expenses. Nonpublic schools and licensed child care centers may receive grants up to fifty percent, capped at fifty thousand dollars. The legislation prioritizes funding for schools with the greatest need for security infrastructure, particularly those lacking existing measures, and requires applicants to demonstrate collaboration with local first responders and conduct a uniform assessment of their security infrastructure. The bill includes provisions for prioritizing applicants based on their security needs for fiscal years 2015 to 2018 and 2020 to 2021, ensuring that the most vulnerable institutions receive necessary support.