25 LC 56 0237
House Bill 47
By: Representatives Davis of the 87
th
, Scott of the 76
th
, and Schofield of the 63
rd
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Part 5 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
1
Annotated, relating to program weights and funding requirements under the "Quality Basic2
Education Act," so as to provide for QBE funding assistance to eligible public schools to3
improve school safety infrastructure; to provide for eligibility; to provide for allowable uses4
of such funding; to provide for policies, procedures, regulations, and requirements; to5
provide for a short title; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and6
applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8
SECTION 1.9
This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "School Security Protection and Safety10
Infrastructure Act."11
SECTION 2.12
Part 5 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,13
relating to program weights and funding requirements under the "Quality Basic Education14
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Act," is amended by revising Code Section 20-2-183, relating to program weights to reflect
15
funds for maintenance and operation of facilities, as follows:16
"20-2-183.17
(a)
All program weights, when multiplied by the base amount, shall reflect sufficient funds18
to provide for the maintenance and operation of facilities essential for housing instructional19
programs and essential supportive educational services, subject to appropriation by the20
General Assembly.21
(b)(1) All program weights, when multiplied by the base amount, shall reflect sufficient22
funds to provide funding assistance to reimburse eligible public schools for actual costs23
incurred to reduce school violence and improve school safety and security. Such funds24
may be referred to as school security protection and safety infrastructure funds.25
(2) The State Board of Education shall annually determine the amount of state funds26
needed to provide funding assistance to eligible public schools as set forth in paragraph27
(1) of this subsection, subject to the following conditions:28
(A) No public school shall be considered eligible for such funding assistance unless29
such school complies with such policies, procedures, regulations, and other30
requirements as adopted by the State Board of Education pursuant to paragraph (3) of31
this subsection; and32
(B) Expenditures allowable under this subsection shall be limited to:33
(i) Mobile surveillance camera trailers;34
(ii) Onsite command centers;35
(iii) Weapon detection technology for large events, daily campus entry, or any other36
school function;37
(iv) Systems designed to detect cigarettes, cigars, consumable vapor products, or38
alternative nicotine products, as such terms are defined in Code Section 48-11-1; or39
(v) Systems designed to detect marijuana as such term is defined in Code Section40
16-13-21.41
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(3) The State Board of Education shall adopt policies, procedures, regulations, and other42
such requirements as appropriate:43
(A) To determine whether a public school is eligible for funding assistance under this44
subsection;45
(B) To establish procedures and requirements for public schools seeking funding46
assistance under this subsection;47
(C) To establish procedures for the Department of Education to evaluate requests by48
public schools for funding assistance under this subsection;49
(D) To calculate the maximum amount of funding assistance each eligible public50
school is eligible to receive under this subsection, subject to appropriations by the51
General Assembly;52
(E) To annually assess whether and to what extent funding assistance provided to53
eligible public schools under this subsection is having the intended impact of reducing54
school violence or improving school safety and security; and55
(F) As may be necessary to implement the provisions of this subsection."56
SECTION 3.57
This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2025, and shall be applicable beginning with the58
2026-2027 school year and continuing each school year thereafter.59
SECTION 4.60
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.61
H. B. 47
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