Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HB643 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	25 LC 49 2291
2	2	House Bill 643
3	3	By: Representatives Townsend of the 179
4	4	th
5	5	, Hilton of the 48
6	6	th
7	7	, Ballard of the 147
8	8	th
9	9	, Rice of
10	10	the 139
11	11	th
12	12	, Dubnik of the 29
13	13	th
14	14	, and others
15	15	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
16	16	AN ACT
17	17	To amend Article 27 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
18	18	1
19	19	relating to loitering at or disrupting schools, so as to provide for the local board of education2
20	20	or other governing body of each public and private elementary and secondary school in this3
21	21	state to install key boxes at each school building in locations determined in collaboration4
22	22	with local law enforcement and emergency management agencies; to provide for the purpose,5
23	23	content, and minimum standards of such key boxes; to provide for policies and regulation;6
24	24	to provide for the creation and maintenance of records; to provide for immunity from civil7
25	25	liability; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.8
26	26	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:9
27	27	SECTION 1.10
28	28	Article 27 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to11
29	29	loitering at or disrupting schools, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as12
30	30	follows:13
31	31	"20-2-1186.
32	32	14
33	33	(a) The local board of education or other governing body of each public and private15
34	34	elementary and secondary school in this state shall be authorized to provide for the16
35	35	H. B. 643
36	36	- 1 - 25 LC 49 2291
37	37	installation at each school building of at least one exterior key box that meets or exceeds17
38	38	Underwriters Laboratories Standard 1037.18
39	39	(b) Each key box required by subsection (a) of this Code section shall:19
40	40	(1) Be installed at an appropriate location for permitting local law enforcement officers20
41	41	and emergency management personnel emergency access to such building, the precise21
42	42	location of which shall be determined by such local board of education or other governing22
43	43	body in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies and local emergency23
44	44	management agencies of the jurisdiction in which such school building is located; and24
45	45	(2) Contain:25
46	46	(A) Such keys and other access control devices as are necessary to access each building26
47	47	and room located on the entire school grounds; and27
48	48	(B) Accurate maps of the entire school grounds that:28
49	49	(i) Identify and label access points to each building's interior, including, but not29
50	50	limited to, rooms, doors, stairwells, and hallways, each of which shall include any30
51	51	identifiers or names utilized by staff and students;31
52	52	(ii) Identify and label locations of critical utilities, key boxes, automated external32
53	53	defibrillators, and trauma kits or other emergency response aids; and33
54	54	(iii) Identify and label areas at or near each building, including parking areas, athletic34
55	55	fields, surrounding roads, outbuildings, and neighboring properties.35
56	56	(c)(1) The local board of education or other governing body of each public and private36
57	57	elementary and secondary school in this state shall adopt such policies and procedures37
58	58	as are necessary to implement the provisions of this Code section.38
59	59	(2) Each local board of education or other governing body of each public and private39
60	60	school that elects to provide for the installation of a key box as provided for in this Code40
61	61	section shall establish key audit mechanisms and processes in collaboration with local41
62	62	law enforcement officers and emergency management personnel to ensure the creation42
63	63	and maintenance of a record of each instance such key box is accessed.43
64	64	H. B. 643
65	65	- 2 - 25 LC 49 2291
66	66	(d) Information to be included with any key box required by subsection (a) of this Code44
67	67	section shall be exempt from public disclosure to the extent provided in Code Section45
68	68	50-18-72.46
69	69	(e)(1) Local boards of education, other public and private school governing bodies, local47
70	70	school systems, other public and private schools, and local governments and agencies48
71	71	shall be immune from civil liability for any damages arising out of the installation and49
72	72	use of key boxes required by subsection (a) of this Code section.50
73	73	(2) Employees of local boards of education, other public and private school governing51
74	74	bodies, local school systems, other public and private schools, and local governments and52
75	75	agencies shall be immune from civil liability for any damages arising out of the53
76	76	installation and use of key boxes required by subsection (a) of this Code section unless54
77	77	it is shown that such employee acted with gross negligence or bad faith."55
78	78	SECTION 2.56
79	79	All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.57
80	80	H. B. 643
81	81	- 3 -