[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2592 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2592
To allow States and local educational agencies to use any remaining
COVID-19 elementary and secondary school emergency relief funds for
school security measures.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 13, 2023
Mr. Mike Garcia of California introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To allow States and local educational agencies to use any remaining
COVID-19 elementary and secondary school emergency relief funds for
school security measures.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Safe Schools Act''.
SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR SCHOOL SECURITY.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of an ESSERF
program or any other law, a State or local educational agency that has
received funds under an ESSERF program may, in lieu of the original
requested or authorized use for such funds, use a portion of, or all,
of the unexpended funds to carry out 1 or more school security
measures.
(b) No Federal Interference.--The Secretary of Education shall
not--
(1) prevent or discourage any State or local educational
agency from using any ESSERF program funds for school security
measures;
(2) require the use of funds under subsection (a) to be in
response to, or in any way connected with, the coronavirus; or
(3) enforce any requirement of an ESSERF program if such
requirement would prevent a State or local educational agency
from carrying out a school security measure authorized under
subsection (a).
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) ESSERF program.--The term ``ESSERF program'' means a
program carried out under--
(A) section 18003 of the CARES Act (20 U.S.C. 3401
note; Public Law 116-136);
(B) section 313 of division M of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260; 134 Stat.
1929); or
(C) section 2001 of the American Rescue Plan Act of
2021 (Public Law 117-2; 135 Stat. 19).
(2) School security measure.--The term ``school security
measure'' means any of the following:
(A) An evidence-based strategy or program to
prevent violence, which may include the use of
appropriate technologies, including the placement and
use of metal detectors and other deterrent measures and
emergency notification and response technologies.
(B) Training to prevent student violence against
others and self, including training for local law
enforcement officers, school personnel, and students.
(C) The development and operation of an anonymous
reporting system for threats of school violence,
including a mobile telephone application, hotline, or
internet website.
(D) The development and operation of--
(i) a school threat assessment and
intervention team that may include coordination
with law enforcement agencies and school
personnel; and
(ii) specialized training for school
officials in responding to mental health
crises.
(E) Coordination with local law enforcement
agencies.
(F) A security assessment.
(G) Security training of personnel and students.
(H) Acquisition and installation of technology for
expedited notification of local law enforcement during
an emergency.
(I) Reinforcing or replacing classroom doors,
locks, or window panels.
(J) Constructing fencing, bollards, planters,
curbs, walls, or any other entry control measure to
create a single point of entry to the campus.
(K) Clearing exterior spaces of foliage or
structures to eliminate spaces that could conceal
illicit activity, provide access to the building above
the first floor, or otherwise aid an intruder.
(L) Installing a system to monitor hallways,
stairwells, and utility rooms, such as physical
inspection or surveillance cameras.
(M) Hiring and paying the salaries of qualified
individuals, such as retired law enforcement officers
or military veterans, to serve as armed school resource
officers.
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