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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
Senate: PS DP 7-0-0-0 | Third Read 17-13-0-0House: ED DPA 7-1-2-2 | Third Read 31-24-5-0-0
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SB 1315: public schools; interoperable communications; requirements
Sponsor: Senator Payne, LD 27
Vetoed by the Governor
Overview
Mandates a school district or charter school that receives monies from the state or a local law enforcement agency (LEA) for interoperable communications select technology, a system or a method to maintain interoperable communications capabilities as specified. Establishes affidavit and reporting requirements relating to interoperability readiness.
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 LEAs and emergency response agencies and in accordance with the minimum standards developed by the Arizona Department of Education (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 a school district or charter school, if the school district or charter school receives monies from the state or a local LEA for interoperable communications, 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 local LEAs in real time if an emergency occurs at the school;
b. designated school personnel to communicate with local LEAs and law enforcement officers in real time during an emergency at the school; and
c. the school district or charter school to securely transmit the current map of each school campus and floor plan of each school building to local LEAs in a printable format.
2. Instructs each school district and charter school that establishes and maintains interoperable communications capabilities to submit to ADE, in a form and manner prescribed by ADE and by July 1, 2027 and July 1 annually thereafter, 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 local LEAs through the required mechanism; and
c. has tested each required mechanism to ensure the school district or charter school can communicate with the local LEA in which the school district or charter school is located at least once during the preceding year.
3. Directs ADE to develop guidelines and best practices to assist school districts and charter schools in meeting interoperable communications capabilities requirements.
4. Requires ADE to compile the affidavits submitted by school districts and charter schools and provide an annual statewide interoperability readiness report to specified individuals.
5. Requires a local LEA that has monies available to establish and maintain interoperable communications capabilities with school districts and charter schools located within the local LEA's jurisdiction to:
a. notify each school district and charter school within its jurisdiction; and
b. offer to provide monies to the school district or charter school for the interoperable communications capabilities.
6. Directs a local LEA that does not have sufficient monies available to establish and maintain interoperable communications capabilities with each school district and charter school located within its jurisdiction to:
a. select school districts and charter schools for which sufficient monies are available to establish and maintain interoperable communications capabilities;
b. notify each school district or charter school that has been selected and offer to provide monies to establish and maintain interoperable communications capabilities; and
c. if a school district or charter school declines an offer for monies for interoperable communications capabilities, select another school district or charter school located within the local LEA's jurisdiction and for which sufficient monies are available to establish and maintain interoperable communications capabilities.
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Initials CH SB 1315
6/25/2026 Page 0 Vetoed by the Governor
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