The bill H. 3258 aims to enhance school safety in South Carolina by mandating the acquisition and implementation of mobile panic alert systems in all public schools and charter schools by July 1, 2026. Under the new Section 59-66-35, each school district is required to implement a system that connects various emergency services technologies to facilitate real-time coordination with law enforcement and first responders. The bill also allows districts that have already implemented a compliant system to avoid additional procurement. Furthermore, the Department of Education, in collaboration with the State Law Enforcement Division and the Department of Public Safety, is tasked with identifying suitable vendors and providing mandatory annual training for school resource officers and personnel on the use of these systems.

Additionally, the State Board of Education is responsible for promulgating regulations to ensure the effective implementation of this new requirement. The bill emphasizes the importance of integrating the panic alert systems with existing local public safety infrastructure to enhance emergency response capabilities. This legislation is set to take effect upon the Governor's approval.

Statutes affected:
12/05/2024: 59-66-35
Latest Version: 59-66-35
12/06/2024: 59-66-35