 |
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
appropriation; school safety program
Purpose
Background
Statute requires ADOA to distribute Interoperability Fund monies to the sheriffs of a county, city or town police department that establishes a school safety program. Interoperability Fund monies may be used only for a school safety program that: 1) encompasses schools throughout Arizona; 2) enables the deployment of a secure, multimedia data communications system for public safety agencies and public schools; 3) provides a communications solution environment that allows for identification, secure messaging, information sharing and alarm system integration as outlined; 4) is capable of being deployed to end users on existing communication assets; 5) allows each participating entity to maintain real-time communication; 6) encrypts all media communications; 7) is certified under the federal Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act; 8) is compatible with the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency Interoperable Gateway System for disaster communications; 9) ensures student and staff privacy; and 10) enables integration to school access control to allow remote lockdown by law enforcement (A.R.S. § 41-1733).
S.B. 1582 appropriates $3,200,000 from the state GF in FY 2027 to ADOA.
Provisions
1. Appropriates $3,200,000 from the state GF in FY 2027 to ADOA for the Interoperability Fund.
2. Allows ADOA to distribute Interoperability Fund monies in the following amounts in FY 2027 for continuing operation and maintenance of authorized school safety programs:
a) $275,000 to Apache County Sheriff's Office;
b) $280,000 to Gila County Sheriff's Office;
c) $280,000 to Graham County Sheriff's Office;
d) $170,000 to Greenlee County Sheriff's Office;
e) $200,000 to La Paz County Sheriff's Office;
f) $525,000 to Mohave County Sheriff's Office;
g) $540,000 to Navajo County Sheriff's Office;
h) $350,000 to Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office; and
i) $600,000 to Yavapai County Sheriff's Office.
3. Narrows the userbase that the required communications system must support to public safety agencies and school districts, rather than public safety agencies and public schools.
4. Requires each participating school district to test the school safety program at least twice each calendar year to ensure functionality.
5. Makes technical and conforming changes.
6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by the Appropriations, Transportation and Technology Committee
1. Appropriates $3,200,000 from the state GF in FY 2027 to ADOA for the Interoperability Fund, rather than to the Arizona Department of Education for the School Safety Program.
2. Allows ADOA to distribute Interoperability Fund monies in prescribed amounts in FY 2027 for continuing operation and maintenance of authorized school safety programs as outlined.
3. Narrows the userbase that the required communications system must support to public safety agencies and school districts, rather than public schools.
4. Requires each participating school district to test the school safety program at least twice each calendar year to ensure functionality.
5. Makes technical and conforming changes.
Senate Action
ED 2/11/26 DP 4-2-2
ATT 2/24/26 DPA 6-4-0
Prepared by Senate Research
February 24, 2026
MH/SM/hk