This bill creates a grant program run by the Attorney General within the Office of Justice Programs. The program would make grants to States and local educational agencies to carry out activities that improve school security.
Eligible activities listed in the bill include:
The bill also says the Attorney General may not prevent or discourage States or local educational agencies from using grant funds for these activities, may not impose requirements about the content or structure of State training programs, and may not enforce any requirement that would stop a recipient from carrying out an eligible activity. Grants must be awarded without regard to whether a recipient is public or private, is religiously affiliated, or receives Federal or State funding for school resource officers. The bill authorizes $900,000,000 to carry out this section.
If the bill becomes law, States and local school systems could apply for grants to set up training programs and to hire veterans, former law enforcement officers, or off-duty officers to work as school safety officers. Schools could also use grant money to buy and install security equipment and emergency systems named in the bill. Both public and private (including religious) schools are eligible for these grants. The bill leaves details of training and program design to States.
No publicly available information on when grants would be awarded, how funding would be divided, or how many positions would be created.
The bill authorizes $900,000,000 to carry out the grant program. No publicly available information on estimated annual outlays, long-term budget effects, or costs to States and localities beyond the authorization amount.
The bill’s stated purpose is to improve school security by funding State training programs and by helping hire veterans and former law enforcement officers as school safety officers, and by funding security infrastructure and emergency systems.
No publicly available information.