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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
Senate: PS DP 7-0-0-0 | Third Read 17-13-0-0 |
SB 1315: public schools; interoperable communications; requirements
Sponsor: Senator Payne, LD 27
Committee on Education
Overview
Mandates each school district and charter school select technology, a system or a method to maintain interoperable communications capabilities as specified. Establishes affidavit and reporting requirements relating to interoperability readiness for school districts, charter schools and the Arizona Department of Education (ADE).
History
The Arizona Department of Administration must distribute School Safety Interoperability Fund (Fund) monies to a county, city or town sheriff that establishes a school safety program. Fund monies may only be used for a school safety program that: 1) encompasses schools throughout Arizona; 2) for a school safety program county, enables the deployment of a secure, multimedia data communications system to a user base consisting of public safety agencies and public schools; 3) provides a communications solution environment that allows for specified capabilities; 4) is capable of being deployed to end users on existing communications assets owned by participating entities; 5) allows each participating entity to maintain discretionary real-time control of all communications assets; 6) encrypts all media communications; 7) is certified as qualified anti-terrorism technology; 8) is compatible with the federal interoperable gateway system for disaster communications; 9) ensures student and staff privacy; and 10) enables integration to school access control systems to allow remote lockdown by law enforcement through the same multimedia system (A.R.S. § 41-1733).
A school district governing board and the charter of a charter school must ensure that an emergency response plan is developed for each school in conjunction with local law enforcement (LEA) and emergency response agencies and in accordance with the minimum standards developed by ADE and the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs. The plan must address how the school and emergency responders will communicate with and assist students with disabilities (A.R.S. §§ 15-183 and 15-341).
Provisions
1. Requires each school district and charter school to select or develop technology, a system or a method to establish and maintain interoperable communications capabilities that include mechanisms that enable:
a. designated school personnel to notify law enforcement agencies in real time if an emergency occurs;
b. designated school personnel to communicate with law enforcement agencies and officers in real time during an emergency at the school; and
c. the secure transmission of each current school campus map and school building floor plan to LEAs in a printable format.
2. Excludes, from the requirement to establish a new interoperable communications system, a school district or charter school that uses an existing secure, multimedia data communications system that is deployed according to Fund requirements and that satisfies the prescribed interoperable communications capabilities and mechanism requirements.
3. Instructs each school district and charter school, by July 1, 2027 and July 1 annually thereafter, to submit to ADE, in a form and manner prescribed by ADE, an affidavit attesting that the school district or charter school:
a. is maintaining the required interoperable communications capabilities;
b. has transmitted the current maps and floor plans to LEAs through the required mechanism; and
c. has tested each required mechanism to ensure the school district and charter school can communicate with the LEA in which the school district or charter school is located at least once during the preceding year.
4. Directs ADE to develop guidelines and best practices to assist school districts and charter schools in meeting interoperable communications system requirements.
5. Requires ADE to compile the affidavits submitted by school districts and charter schools and provide an annual statewide interoperability readiness report to specified individuals.
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9. Initials CH/JD SB 1315
10. 3/21/2026 Page 0 Education
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