Bill No. 1417, known as the "School Access for Emergency Response Act" or "SAFER Act," establishes a grant program within the State Department of Education aimed at enhancing school safety through improved interoperable communication systems. The bill defines key terms related to emergency response and outlines the creation of the School Access for Emergency Response Grant Program, which will provide funding for necessary hardware, software, training, and maintenance to facilitate seamless communication between schools and first responders. The program will be administered by the State Department of Education, with a grant selection committee established to evaluate applications based on specific eligibility criteria, including the requirement for schools to have a Memorandum of Understanding with local public safety agencies.

Additionally, the bill mandates that school districts report on the utilization of grant funds and their impact on emergency communication training and technology upgrades. A revolving fund, designated as the "School Access for Emergency Response Revolving Fund," will be created to support the grant program, with a cap on expenditures set at $5 million per fiscal year. The act is set to take effect on November 1, 2025, and includes provisions for ongoing reporting to the Legislature regarding the program's activities and outcomes.