The bill proposes an appropriation of $10,000,000 from the general fund to the Department of Public Safety for the purpose of providing security enhancement grants to both public school districts and nonpublic schools accredited by the Department of Education. To qualify for these grants, schools must have undergone a security assessment within the last five years, established a trained behavioral threat assessment team, and obtained approval from their governing boards. The Department of Public Safety is tasked with administering these grants, which will not exceed $2,000,000 annually, and applications will be accepted from July 1 to August 15 each year.
The grants can be utilized for various security enhancements, including access control systems, surveillance cameras, panic buttons, security lighting, doors and locks, fencing, and other recommended improvements from the school's security assessment. Additionally, any unspent funds from the appropriation will revert by June 30, 2030, and the act is set to take effect on June 30, 2025. The bill outlines the responsibilities of the secretary of the Department of Public Safety in approving expenditures related to the grants.