Amends TCA Title 9; Title 49 and Title 67.

ON APRIL 22, 2024, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENTS #1 AND #2 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 2528, AS AMENDED.<br /> <br /> AMENDMENT #1 rewrites the bill to, instead, establish a school safety alert grant pilot program, as described below.<br /> <br /> SCHOOL SAFETY ALERT GRANT PILOT PROGRAM<br /> <br /> This amendment requires the department of education ("department") to establish and administer a school safety alert grant pilot program. The purpose of the pilot program is to award school safety grants to LEAs, public charter schools, private schools, and church-related schools for the purchase of mobile panic alert systems. The alert systems funded through the pilot program must be approved by the department, in consultation with the department of safety.<br /> <br /> This amendment creates a separate fund within the general fund to be known as the school safety alert grant pilot fund. Subject to appropriations and the availability of funds, the department must allocate and disperse grants each fiscal year to LEAs, public charter schools, private schools, and church-related schools. The grants must be awarded as follows:<br /> <br /> (1) The first grant must be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to the first LEA or school that applies;<br /> <br /> (2) The second grant must be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to an LEA or school that is located in a different grand division of this state than the recipient of the grant awarded under (1) above;<br /> <br /> (3) The third grant must be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to an LEA or school that is located in a different grand division of this state than the recipients of the grants awarded under (1) and (2) above; and<br /> <br /> (4) The fourth and any subsequent grants must be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to an LEA or school that is located in a grand division of this state, following the order of awards as established under (1)–(3) above.<br /> <br /> This amendment requires a grant awarded under this amendment to be limited to $10,000 per school in a fiscal year. Subject to appropriation, two schools from each grand division of the state must receive the grant funding.<br /> <br /> RULEMAKING<br /> <br /> This amendment authorizes the commissioner of education to promulgate rules to effectuate this amendment.<br /> <br /> ANNUAL REPORT<br /> <br /> By July 1, 2025, and by each July 1 thereafter, this amendment requires the department to prepare and submit to the general assembly a report detailing all funds received and payments made through the school safety alert grant pilot fund.<br /> <br /> AMENDMENT #2 revises the provision that limits a grant awarded under the bill to $10,000 per school in a fiscal year to, instead, limit a grant awarded under the bill to $8,000 per school in a fiscal year.<br />