As of October 1, 2023, this bill requires the department of education to establish and administer a school safety alert grant program. This bill provides that the purpose of the program is to provide grants to LEAs and public charter schools to establish school safety alert systems in public schools.
FUNDING
This bill requires the creation of a separate fund within the general fund to be known as the school safety alert grant fund. The fund is composed of funds appropriated by the general assembly for the fund and gifts, grants, and other donations received by the department for the fund. Subject to the availability of funds, the department must allocate and disperse grants each fiscal year to LEAs and public charter schools. A grant is limited to $50,000 per eligible school in a fiscal year and must be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
This bill provides that it is the legislative intent that funding in the amount of $90 million be appropriated in fiscal year 2024-2025 for awarding grants from the fund.
ANNUAL REPORT
On or before January 1, 2025, and by January 1 of each subsequent year, this bill requires the department to prepare a report to the general assembly regarding the funds received and payments made by the fund.
RULEMAKING
This bill authorizes the commissioner of education to promulgate rules to effectuate this bill.
ON AUGUST 28, 2023, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 7038, AS AMENDED.
AMENDMENT #1 makes the following changes to this bill:
(1) Requires the alert systems funded through the grant program to be approved by the department of education in consultation with the department of safety;
(2) Removes the provisions of this bill creating a separate fund within the general fund for the funds;
(3) Prohibits the department of education from requiring an LEA or public charter school to include a school safety alert system in the LEA's or public charter school's school security self-assessment, district-wide school safety plan, or building-level school safety plan in order to receive a grant; and
(4) Removes the provisions of this bill referring to the intended funding amount for the program and, instead, provides that the intent is that funding for a school alert grant program is funded by the unexpended balance of appropriations made for school safety grants to LEAs in prior legislation.