SB 715 – This act establishes the Safe Schools Fund. Beginning in fiscal year 2010, and in each subsequent year, the General Assembly shall appropriate $9 million to the fund. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education shall annually distribute the moneys to each school district in proportion to their average daily attendance. School districts may use the money from the fund for various safety related purposes as described in the act. Each district must notify DESE how it uses the funds. DESE may withhold future payments from the fund if it determines that a district has misused any of the moneys.
Each school district must institute lock-down procedures for each school building in the event a potentially dangerous or armed intruder enters the school. Each school building must also conduct a drill at least once a year. DESE shall establish guidelines by January 1, 2009 to assist school district in implementing such procedures. Each school district must adopt and implement an anti-bullying policy to receive funding.
This act is similar to SB 6 (2007).
MICHAEL RUFF