(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
"Disbursement program" means the school security disbursement program created insubsection (2) of this section.
"Local education provider" means a school district, a charter school that is authorizedpursuant to part 1 of article 30.5 of title 22, an institute charter school that is authorized pursuant to part 5 of article 30.5 of title 22, or a board of cooperative services as defined in section 22-5103.
There is created in the department the school security disbursement program to provide disbursements to local education providers to use for the purposes described in subsection (3) of this section to improve security within public schools. Subject to available appropriations, the department shall disburse money to applicants as provided in subsection (5) of this section from money credited to the school security disbursement program account within the school safety resource center cash fund created in section 24-33.5-1807. It is the intent of the general assembly that the department distribute the money credited to the school security disbursement program account for the disbursement program as quickly as practicable based on the receipt of qualifying applications.
A local education provider that receives a disbursement from the disbursement program may use the disbursed money only for the following purposes:
(a) Capital construction that improves the security of a public school facility or public school vehicle, including any structure or installed hardware, device, or equipment that protects a public school facility or public school vehicle and the students, educators, and other individuals who attend, work in, or visit a public school facility or are transported in a public school vehicle from threats of physical harm including but not limited to any structure or installed hardware, device, or equipment that:
Prevents the entry of unauthorized individuals into a public school facility or a protected space within a public school facility or onto a public school vehicle;
Prevents undesired objects and substances from entering a public school facility orpublic school vehicle;
Sounds warnings when a threat is present;
Can be used to expedite communication when a threat is present; or
Enables authorized individuals to visually monitor the public school facility or itsgrounds or the public school vehicle;
Training in student threat assessment, which training is provided to all school building staff who have contact with students;
Training for on-site school resource officers employed by the local education provider;
School emergency response training for all school building staff.
(4) A local education provider, including any combination of local education providers who wish to apply together as a single, regional applicant, may apply for a disbursement by submitting an application to the department that includes the following information:
The purpose or purposes described in subsection (3) of this section for which theapplicant is requesting the disbursement;
The amount of disbursed money requested based on an itemized estimate of the expected cost of the purpose or purposes for which the applicant is requesting the disbursement and taking into account the requirement of matching money, if applicable, pursuant to subsection (6) of this section;
Evidence of the availability of and commitment of the applicant to use financial resources to match the amount of the disbursement;
The applicant's commitment to provide information to the department as required forthe annual report described in subsection (6) of this section;
If the local education provider is a charter school that is authorized pursuant to part 1 of article 30.5 of title 22, located within a school district facility, and participating in the school district's safety and security services, information demonstrating that the charter school has collaborated with the school district in preparing and submitting the application; and
Any additional information, as specified by rule of the executive director, that isnecessary for the department to evaluate the likely effectiveness of the applicant's use of the disbursed money in improving security in public school facilities or vehicles.
The department shall review each application received pursuant to subsection (4) ofthis section and, subject to available appropriations, shall disburse money to the applicant if the department determines that the application meets the requirements specified in subsection (4) of this section and the purpose or purposes for which the applicant intends to use the disbursed money are likely to improve security in public school facilities or vehicles. The department shall give priority to applicants that commit to providing financial resources to match the amount of the disbursement. The department shall determine the disbursement amount taking into account the amount identified in the application.
(a) On or before August 1, 2019, and on or before August 1 each year thereafter, each local education provider that received a disbursement in the preceding school year shall submit a report to the department specifying the amount received; the source and amount of matching money provided, if applicable; and the purpose or purposes for which the local education provider used the disbursed money, including an itemized accounting of how the money was expended.
(b) Beginning with the annual presentation in 2019 provided by the department to the committees of reference pursuant to section 2-7-203, the department shall include in the annual presentation a summary of the reports received pursuant to subsection (6)(a) of this section. Beginning in January 2020, and every January thereafter, the department shall submit a summary of the reports received pursuant to subsection (6)(a) of this section to the education committees of the senate and the house of representatives, or any successor committees.
The executive director shall promulgate rules pursuant to the "State Administrative
Procedure Act", article 4 of this title 24, to establish the time frames for submitting disbursement applications and awarding disbursements and to specify any additional information that must be included in disbursement applications as described in subsection (4)(f) of this section.
This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2021.
Source: L. 2018: Entire section added, (SB 18-269), ch. 408, p. 2395, § 1, effective June 6. L. 2019: (6)(b) amended, (SB 19-252), ch. 254, p. 2452, § 3, effective August 2.