2025 SESSION

HOUSE SUBSTITUTE

25105418D

HOUSE BILL NO. 2364

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the House Committee on Education

on January 22, 2025)

(Patron Prior to Substitute—Delegate Wilt)

A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-280.2:5, relating to School Safety and Security Grant Fund and Program established.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-280.2:5 as follows:

§ 22.1-280.2:5. School Safety and Security Grant Fund and Program established.

A. There is hereby created in the state treasury a special nonreverting fund to be known as the School Safety and Security Grant Fund, referred to in this section as "the Fund." The Fund shall be established on the books of the Comptroller. All funds appropriated for such purpose and any gifts, donations, grants, bequests, and other funds received on its behalf shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to the Fund. Interest earned on moneys in the Fund shall remain in the Fund and be credited to it. Any moneys remaining in the Fund, including interest thereon, at the end of each fiscal year shall not revert to the general fund but shall remain in the Fund. Moneys in the Fund shall be used solely for the purposes of awarding grants on a competitive basis pursuant to the School Safety and Security Grant Program established by the Department pursuant to subsection B. Expenditures and disbursements from the Fund shall be made by the State Treasurer on warrants issued by the Comptroller upon written request signed by the Superintendent.

B. The Department shall establish and administer the School Safety and Security Grant Program (the Program) whereby it awards grants from the Fund on a merit-based, competitive basis to school divisions for the purpose of improving the safety and security of public school buildings by covering the cost of equipment purchases and installations, including emergency first aid equipment and equipment for which a school division is not eligible for a grant pursuant to the Public School Security Equipment Grant Act of 2013 administered by the Virginia Public School Authority in accordance with § 22.1-280.2:2; software purchases; planning; and on-site emergency training of school board employees whose positions involve regular interaction with students. The Department shall establish such rules, processes, and procedures as it deems necessary for the proper administration of the Program and shall seek guidance and input from state agencies with a public safety and emergency response-centered mission in administering the Program.