School Security Enhancement Act

Federal

Source: Congress.gov · 647 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to allow local school districts to use certain federal funds for school security improvements. The bill specifically permits schools to spend money on security measures like metal detectors, reinforced doors and windows, and notification systems for law enforcement during emergencies.

Who It Affects

Local educational agencies (school districts) and their students and staff members.

Key Provisions

• Schools can use available federal funds to plan, design, and improve school buildings and facilities to strengthen security on school premises. (Sec. 2) • Schools may install or use metal detectors or other evidence-based security measures to control access to school buildings, based on each school's specific needs. (Sec. 2) • Schools can implement technology to notify law enforcement and first responders during crisis situations. (Sec. 2) • Schools may install bullet-resistant doors and windows and other safety reinforcement infrastructure. (Sec. 2) • Schools can use systems to quickly send official safety information to parents during and immediately after a crisis. (Sec. 2) • No federal grant money under this part may be used to provide firearms or firearm training to anyone. (Sec. 2)

What Changes

Schools gain the ability to use existing federal education funds specifically for school security improvements that were previously not allowed under the law.

Important Definitions

None defined in the bill text.

II 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 1083 To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to strengthen school security. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 30, 2023 Mr. CRUZ introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to strengthen school security. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘School Security En- 4 hancement Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. SCHOOL SECURITY. 6 Section 4104 of the Elementary and Secondary Edu- 7 cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7114) is amended— 8 (1) in subsection (b)(3)(B)— 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:37 Apr 10, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1083.IS S1083 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •S 1083 IS (A) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 1 end; and 2 (B) by inserting after clause (iv) the fol- 3 lowing: 4 ‘‘(v) improving school conditions for 5 student learning, by enabling local edu- 6 cational agencies to use funds available 7 under subsection (a)(3) for the purpose of 8 planning and designing school buildings 9 and facilities, installing infrastructure, and 10 implementing technology or other meas- 11 ures, that strengthen security on school 12 premises, which may include— 13 ‘‘(I) controlling access to school 14 premises or facilities, through the use 15 of metal detectors, or other measures, 16 or technology, with evidence-based ef- 17 fectiveness (to the extent the State in- 18 volved determines that such evidence 19 is reasonably available), in accordance 20 with the needs of the school; 21 ‘‘(II) implementing any tech- 22 nology or measure, or installing any 23 infrastructure, to cover and conceal 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:37 Apr 10, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1083.IS S1083 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •S 1083 IS students within the school during cri- 1 sis situations; 2 ‘‘(III) implementing technology 3 to provide notification to relevant law 4 enforcement and first responders dur- 5 ing such a situation; 6 ‘‘(IV) implementing any tech- 7 nology or measure, including hiring 8 school security officers, or installing 9 any infrastructure, with evidence- 10 based effectiveness (to the extent the 11 State involved determines that such 12 evidence is reasonably available) to in- 13 crease the safety of school students 14 and staff; 15 ‘‘(V) implementing any tech- 16 nology or measure, or installing any 17 infrastructure, for school safety rein- 18 forcement, including bullet-resistant 19 doors and windows; and 20 ‘‘(VI) implementing any tech- 21 nology or system that would reduce 22 the time needed to disseminate official 23 information to parents regarding the 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:37 Apr 10, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S1083.IS S1083 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 4 •S 1083 IS safety of their children during and im- 1 mediately following a crisis; and’’; and 2 (2) by adding at the end the following: 3 ‘‘(d) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.— 4 ‘‘(1) NO FUNDS TO PROVIDE FIREARMS OR 5 TRAINING.—No amounts provided as a grant under 6 this part may be used for the provision to any per- 7 son of a firearm or training in the use of a firearm. 8 ‘‘(2) NO EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS.—Nothing in 9 this part may be construed to preclude or contradict 10 any other provision of law authorizing the provision 11 of firearms or training in the use of firearms.’’. 12 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:37 Apr 10, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S1083.IS S1083 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB

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