Legislative Bill 35 requires all accredited public, private, denominational, or parochial schools in Nebraska to install a secure master key box to allow emergency access for law enforcement. The responsibility for installation falls on the school board or governing body, which must work with local law enforcement to determine the box's location. The state school security director will oversee compliance and has expanded duties to assess school security and recommend minimum standards. Additionally, the bill establishes a grant program for security-related infrastructure projects, including funding for the key box installation, with a proposed transfer of $10 million from the Cash Reserve Fund to the School Safety and Security Fund.

The bill mandates the State Treasurer to transfer one million dollars from the Cash Reserve Fund to the School Safety and Security Fund shortly after the bill's effective date, with specific amounts and dates determined by the budget administrator. It also expresses the Legislature's intent to transfer two hundred million dollars from the Cash Reserve Fund to the General Fund between July 1, 2026, and June 30, 2027, contingent on maintaining a sufficient balance in the Cash Reserve Fund. Furthermore, the bill repeals original sections 79-2,144, 79-3108, 79-3109, and 84-612 of the Reissue Revised Statutes of Nebraska, reflecting a commitment to enhancing school safety funding while ensuring fiscal responsibility.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 79-3108, 79-3109, 84-612