[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5268 Introduced in House (IH)]
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115th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5268
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the Secretary
of Homeland Security, through the Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency, to make grants to eligible local education
agencies to provide improved security measures on school grounds, and
for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 14, 2018
Mr. Messer introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the
Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as
fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to authorize the Secretary
of Homeland Security, through the Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency, to make grants to eligible local education
agencies to provide improved security measures on school grounds, and
for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Safe Schools Act''.
SEC. 2. MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL SAFETY.
Title XX of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 601 et
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``Subtitle C--Safe School Grants
``SEC. 2031. SAFE SCHOOL GRANT ESTABLISHED.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary, through the Administrator, is
authorized to make grants, to be known as `Safe School Grants' to
eligible local education agencies to provide improved security measures
at schools and on school grounds.
``(b) Uses of Funds.--Grants awarded under this section shall be
distributed directly to local education agencies and shall be used to
improve security at schools and on school grounds through one or more
of the following:
``(1) Employment of additional school resource officers not
already employed by the local educational agency.
``(2) Entering into a contract or a memorandum of
understanding with a local law enforcement agency, private
entity, or nonprofit corporation for the services of school
resource officers.
``(3) Increasing coordination with local law enforcement.
``(4) Purchasing equipment, technology, or infrastructure
improvements to--
``(A) control access to school campus, buildings,
and classrooms;
``(B) expedite notification of first responders; or
``(C) inhibit weapons from entering a school
building.
``(c) Preferential Consideration.--In awarding grants under this
subtitle, the Secretary shall give preferential consideration, if
feasible, to local education agencies that demonstrate that the grant
will be used efficiently and effectively, as judged by the Secretary,
to secure school buildings or school grounds.
``(d) Grant Limit.--A grant authorized under this subtitle shall
not exceed a Federal contribution of more than $50 per student
currently enrolled (as defined by the relevant State educational
authority) per year, for each school building and school grounds for
which the local education agency applies under this subtitle.
``(e) Matching Funds.--The Federal share of the total costs of a
program funded by a grant under this subtitle may not exceed 50
percent.
``(f) Equitable Distribution.--In awarding grants under this
subtitle, the Secretary shall ensure, to the extent practicable, an
equitable geographic distribution among the regions of the United
States and among urban, suburban, and rural areas.
``(g) Administrative Costs.--The Secretary may reserve for
administrative costs not more than 2 percent from amounts appropriated
to carry out this subtitle.
``(h) Applications.--To receive a grant under this subtitle, a
local education agency shall submit an application to the Secretary at
such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the
Secretary may require with respect to each school building or school
grounds area for which the local education agency intends to use funds
provided under this subtitle. Each application shall--
``(1) include a detailed explanation of--
``(A) the intended uses of funds provided under the
grant; and
``(B) how the activities funded under the grant
will meet the purpose of this subtitle; and
``(2) be accompanied by an assurance that the application
was prepared after consultation with individuals not limited to
law enforcement officers (such as school violence experts or
child psychologists) to ensure that the improvements to be
funded under the grant are--
``(A) consistent with a comprehensive approach to
preventing school violence; and
``(B) individualized to the needs of each school at
which those improvements are to be made.
``(i) Guidelines.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the
enactment of this subtitle, the Secretary shall promulgate guidelines
to implement this subtitle.
``SEC. 2032. DEFINITIONS.
``In this subtitle, the following definitions shall apply:
``(1) Local education agency.--The term `local education
agency' has the meaning given such term under section 8101 of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
7801).
``(2) School resource officer.--The term `school resource
officer' has the meaning given such term in section 1709 of the
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C.
10389).
``SEC. 2033. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
subtitle the following:
``(1) $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2018; and
``(2) $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through
2024.
``SEC. 2034. ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS.
``Not later than November 30 of each year, the Secretary shall
submit a report to the Congress regarding the activities carried out
under this subtitle. Each such report shall include, for the preceding
fiscal year, the number of grants funded under this subtitle, the
amount of funds provided under those grants, and the activities for
which those funds were used.
``SEC. 2035. REPORTS BY GRANT RECIPIENTS.
``(a) In General.--As a condition of receiving a grant under this
subtitle, a local education agency annually shall submit to the
Secretary a report on activities performed using grant funds during the
preceding fiscal year.
``(b) Contents.--Each report submitted under subsection (a) shall,
at a minimum, include, for the applicable local education agency--
``(1) the amount obligated to that recipient under this
subtitle for that fiscal year;
``(2) the amount of funds received and expended under this
subtitle by that recipient in that fiscal year;
``(3) a summary description of expenditures made by that
recipient using such funds, and the purposes for which such
expenditures were made; and
``(4) other reporting metrics the Secretary shall prescribe
for the purposes of tracking and determining the effectiveness
of the activities performed using grant funds.
``SEC. 2036. GAO REVIEW.
``The Comptroller General of the United States shall review the
validity of each report submitted by the Secretary under section 2034
not later than 120 days after the date on which such report is
submitted. The Comptroller General shall submit to the Congress a
report containing the findings of such review and shall provide any
recommendations for additional review or other requirements that could
improve the effectiveness of the program established under this
subtitle.
``SEC. 2037. CONSTRUCTION.
``The provisions of subtitle B shall not be construed to apply to
this subtitle.''.
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