REFERENCE TITLE: school safety; identification system; appropriation

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1798

Introduced by

Senators Sears: Fernandez, Gowan

AN ACT

establishing the school safety and threat identification pilot program; appropriating monies.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. School safety and threat identification pilot program; biometric identification system; report; delayed repeal

A. The school safety and threat identification pilot program is established in the department of education.  The department shall select a school district that has at least eighty but not more than eighty-five schools and that provides instruction to students in kindergarten programs and each of grades one through twelve to participate in the program.  If sufficient monies are available, the participating school district shall install a biometric identification system, including at least two camera sensors, in each school building that:

1. Detects the presence of individuals who are registered sex offenders, who have a criminal history record or who have been designated by the school district or law enforcement as an individual of concern.

2. Supports the identification of missing, endangered or runaway minors if information about the minor has been lawfully provided to the school district and an alert has been authorized.

3. Issues an alert within sixty seconds, subject to the following:

(a) An alert may be filtered by the district.

(b) Each potential alert is reviewed by a trained analyst before the alert is issued.

4. Complies with state and federal privacy laws.

5. Uses data that is derived from verified law enforcement agencies.

6. Does not:

(a) Record or store video or audio footage.

(b) Transmit or store biometric data.

(c) Store images in the camera sensors.

(d) Allow live monitoring or viewing of any camera sensor footage.

B. On or before _____, the department of education shall report to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate, and shall submit a copy of the report to the secretary of state, on the implementation of the school safety and threat identification pilot program established by this section. 

C. This section is repealed from and after December 31, 2027.

Sec. 2. Appropriation; department of education; school safety and threat identification pilot program

The sum of $2,000,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2026-2027 to the department of education for the school safety and threat identification pilot program established by this act.