Present law requires the department of education ("department") to establish and administer a school safety alert grant pilot program, the purpose of which is to award school safety grants to local education agencies (LEAs), public charter schools, private schools, and church-related schools for the purchase of mobile panic alert systems. This bill changes the program from a pilot program to a full program and requires the department to continue to administer the program for the same purpose, and subject to the same approval requirement, until July 1, 2027. FUND Present law creates a separate fund within the general fund to be known as the school safety alert grant pilot fund. This bill creates a separate fund within the general fund to be known as the school safety alert grant fund. Funds remaining in the school safety alert grant pilot fund must be transferred to the school safety alert grant fund, at which time the school safety alert grant pilot fund ceases to exist. AWARDS Subject to appropriations and the availability of funds, present law requires the department to allocate and disperse grants each fiscal year to LEAs, public charter schools, private schools, and church-related schools. Each grant awarded is limited to $8,000 per school in a fiscal year. Subject to appropriation, two schools from each grand division of the state must receive the grant funding on a first-come, first-served basis. This bill removes the provision that requires two schools from each grand division of the state to receive the grant funding. Subject to appropriations and the availability of funds, this bill requires the department to allocate and disperse grants for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 to LEAs, public charter schools, private schools, and church-related schools. ANNUAL REPORT By July 1, 2026, and by July 1, 2027, this bill requires the department to prepare and submit to the general assembly a report detailing all funds received and payments made through the school safety alert grant fund.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-1-225