Senate Bill 1142 aims to enhance safety for deaf and hard-of-hearing pupils in Wisconsin by establishing a grant program through the Department of Public Instruction (DPI). The bill mandates the creation of a new statute, 115.374, which allows DPI to award grants to school districts for the installation or upgrading of emergency notification systems that are accessible to these students. The funding for this initiative is set at $1,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27, with the stipulation that grants cannot exceed the amount a school district has spent on the installation or upgrade.

Additionally, the bill introduces a new section, 20.255 (2) (bj), which outlines the appropriations for these emergency notification system grants. This legislative effort reflects a commitment to ensuring that all students, regardless of hearing ability, have access to critical emergency information in a timely manner.