Section 13-1306.1-B - Targeted school safety grants for nonpublic schools and school entities program.(a) Reestablishment.--The Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools and School Entities Program is reestablished in the committee to make nonpublic schools and school entities within this Commonwealth safer places.(b) Continuation.--The targeted grants issued in fiscal year 2022-2023 and in any previous fiscal year to school entities and to intermediate units on behalf of nonpublic schools through the department under Article XIII-A shall continue to be administered by the department. Targeted grants for fiscal year 2023-2024 and each year thereafter shall be awarded and administered by the committee.(c) Functions generally.--The committee shall perform all functions related to the direct approval, disbursement and administration of grants under the program.(d) Diversity.--The committee shall ensure that grant funding under the program is geographically dispersed throughout this Commonwealth.(e) Supplement and not supplant.-- (1) Grant money allocated through the program shall be used to supplement and not supplant existing nonpublic school entity spending on school safety and security.(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude a nonpublic school entity from making an application in a subsequent year for the same purpose and amount awarded in a prior year.(f) Whole or partial awards.--The committee, in its discretion, may award, in whole or in part, a request made by a nonpublic school entity in its grant application based upon the merit of a specific item requested.(g) Sustainability planning.--Sustainability planning is not a necessary component of an application under this section.(h) Confidentiality.--Information submitted by a nonpublic school entity as part of the grant application, the disclosure of which would be reasonably likely to result in a substantial and demonstrable risk of physical harm or the personal security of students or staff, shall remain confidential and shall not be accessible for inspection and duplication under the act of February 14, 2008 ( P.L. 6, No.3), known as the Right-To-Know Law. The committee may release aggregate data at its discretion.(j) Uses.--Targeted grants to school entities and to intermediate units on behalf of nonpublic schools shall be used to fund programs that address school violence and school mental health. Eligible uses of the funds shall include any use under section 1306-B(j) and to fund programs that address school violence by establishing or enhancing school security, including costs associated with the training and compensation of school security personnel.(k)Other grant recipients.-- (1) The committee may award targeted grants to municipalities, law enforcement agencies and approved vendors to fund programs that address school violence by establishing or enhancing school security, including costs associated with the training and compensation of school security personnel.(2) A municipality or law enforcement agency that receives grants under this subsection shall, with the prior consent of the governing board of the school entity or nonpublic school, assign school resource officers to carry out their official duties on the premises of the school entity or nonpublic school. A municipality or law enforcement agency may not receive grant money under this subsection for any purpose other than for costs associated with school resource officers and are not eligible for other grants provided to school entities under this section. In assigning school resource officers under this subsection, a municipality shall take into consideration the proportion of students enrolled in each school entity or nonpublic school.(3) A nonpublic school may apply to the committee for grant funding under paragraph (1) to be used for the costs associated with obtaining the services of school security personnel from a list of approved vendors certified by the committee. A grant award for this purpose shall be awarded and paid directly to the approved vendor with which the nonpublic school contracts for services. A nonpublic school may not apply for grant funding under this subsection for any purpose other than obtaining the services of school security personnel under this paragraph.(l) Other duties.--The committee shall have the following duties as to targeted grants: (1) Targeted grants shall be allocated through a competitive grant review process established by the committee. A school entity must satisfy the requirements of this section. The application for a targeted grant shall include:(i) The purpose for which the targeted grant will be utilized;(ii) Information indicating the need for the targeted grant, including, but not limited to, school violence statistics;(iii) An estimated budget;(iv) Methods for measuring outcomes; and(v) Other criteria as the committee may require.(2) The committee shall: (i) Give priority in grant funding under subsection (c) to a school entity designated as a persistently dangerous school as defined in 22 Pa. Code § 403.2 (relating to definitions).(ii) Give priority in grant funding under subsection (j) to school entities with the greatest need related to safety and order.(iii) For municipalities, local law enforcement agencies and nonpublic schools that apply for funding for the training and compensation of school security personnel under subsection (j) or (k), give priority to municipalities, local law enforcement agencies and nonpublic schools that utilize school security personnel who have completed the training and qualifications required under Article XIII-C.(iv) For school entities or nonpublic schools that apply for funding for school police officers under subsection (j) or (k), give priority to school entities and nonpublic schools that utilize school police officers who satisfy all of the following: (A) Are retired Federal agents or retired State, municipal or military police officers.(B) Are independent contractors of the school entity or nonpublic school.(C) Are compensated on an hourly basis and receive no other compensation or fringe benefits from the school entity or nonpublic school.(D) Have completed annual training as required by the Municipal Police Officers' Education and Training Commission under 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 21 Subch. D (relating to municipal police education and training).(E) The requirements of section 111.(F) In the case of a school entity, have been indemnified by the school entity under 42 Pa.C.S. § 8548 (relating to indemnity).(G) Are utilized by a school entity or nonpublic school that has not employed a school police officer within the three years immediately preceding the effective date of this section. Nothing in this section shall be construed to impact grant decisions for school entities, municipalities or law enforcement agencies that apply for funding for hiring of school resource officers under subsection (j) or (k).(3) For fiscal year 2023-2024 and each fiscal year thereafter, the combined amount of grants awarded to intermediate units on behalf of nonpublic schools under subsection (j) and grants awarded for costs associated with a nonpublic school obtaining the services of school security personnel under subsection (k) shall be no less than $14,551,000.(m) Audits.-- (1) The commission may randomly audit and monitor grant recipients to ensure the appropriate use of grant funds and compliance with the provisions of subsection (d).(2) The Auditor General may not perform audits related to school safety and security assessments, survey instruments and grant applications.(n)Procurement procedures.--An applicant shall be required to comply with all applicable State and local procurement requirements, policies and procedures when expending grant money.(o) Transfer.--Within 90 days of the effective date of this section, from the amount appropriated to the Department of Education for the Safe Schools Initiative, the Department of Education shall transfer the sum of $20,700,000 to the commission for distribution by the committee in accordance with this section.(p) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Program." The Targeted School Safety Grants for Nonpublic Schools and School Entities Program reestablished in this section.
Added by P.L. TBD 2023 No. 33,§ 19, eff. 12/13/2023.