Division of the Budget Landon State Office Building Phone: (785) 296-2436 900 SW Jackson Street, Room 504 adam.c.proffitt@ks.gov Topeka, KS 66612 http://budget.kansas.gov Adam C. Proffitt, Director Laura Kelly, Governor Division of the Budget January 17, 2024 The Honorable Adam Thomas, Chairperson House Committee on Education 300 SW 10th Avenue, Room 218-N Topeka, Kansas 66612 Dear Representative Thomas: SUBJECT: Fiscal Note for HB 2494 by House Committee on Education In accordance with KSA 75-3715a, the following fiscal note concerning HB 2494 is respectfully submitted to your committee. HB 2494 would require the State Board of Education to develop and adopt statewide standards for school safety and security plans and cardiac emergency response plans. The bill would outline standards required, including evaluation of school infrastructure, training of school district employees, procedures for making notifications to individuals outside of a school building, procedures for recovery after an emergency situation ends, and any other policies and procedures the Board would deem necessary. As part of the standards, the Board would be required to identify roles and responsibilities for implementing school safety and security plans and cardiac emergency response plans at the school district and school building levels, including the role of local law enforcement agencies and local emergency management agencies when partnering with school districts in the development and implementation of the plans. The Board may consider and utilize any materials, documentation or videos that are available through the United States Department of Homeland Security in developing standards for school safety and security plans, and any resources that are available through the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the American Heart Association, or any other nationally recognized, guidelines-based organization focused on emergency cardiovascular care in developing standards for cardiac emergency response plans. The statewide standards for school safety and security plans would be required to address the following: (1) the infrastructure of school buildings and attendance centers operated by school The Honorable Adam Thomas, Chairperson Page 2—HB 2494 districts; (2) the security technology to be utilized in buildings, including intrusion detection systems and security cameras; (3) the communications systems, including systems for interoperability between the school district and law enforcement agencies; and (4) any other systems or facilities the Board deems necessary for the safety and security of such buildings. The statewide standards for cardiac emergency response plans would be required to address the following: (1) the appropriate use of school personnel to respond to incidents involving an individual experiencing suspected sudden cardiac arrest while on school grounds; (2) establishing a cardiac emergency response team; (3) implementing placement of automated external defibrillators and routine maintenance of the devices within school buildings; (4) identifying the location of each automated external defibrillator; (5) training of school personnel in the use of automated external defibrillators and cardiopulmonary resuscitation during an emergency in accordance with guidelines established by any nationally recognized, guidelines-based organization focused on emergency cardiovascular care; (6) communications systems with local emergency medical services; and (7) developing an event-specific emergency action plan for each school-sanctioned event held at a location separate from school grounds. The Board would be required to regularly review and update the standards for school safety and security plans and cardiac emergency response plans. Any changes to such standards would be provided to each school district by written notification upon adoption by the Board. The Board would be required to provide notice of the adopted standards to those state agencies that were consulted in developing the standards. The Board would be required to maintain the confidentiality of the standards that contain emergency or security information or procedures. The board of education of each school district would be required to adopt a comprehensive school safety and security plan and a comprehensive cardiac emergency response plan based on the statewide standards adopted by the Board. The bill would outline organizations that each school district would have to consult with prior to adopting the plans. The bill would establish the School Safety and Security Grant Program, which would be administered by the Board. The bill would outline the procedures for the Board to review submitted school district applications for grant funds, as well as when an application is approved or denied. All administrative proceedings pursuant to this section would be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Kansas Administrative Procedure Act. The bill would establish the School Safety and Security Grant Fund for the disbursement of grant funds. Each school district treasurer would be required to deposit any grant awarded in the general fund of the school district. The bill would establish the School Cardiac Emergency Response Grant Program, which would be administered by the Department of Health and Environment. The bill would outline the procedures for the Department to review submitted school district applications for grant funds, as well as when an application is approved or denied. All administrative proceedings pursuant to this section would be conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Kansas Administrative Procedure Act. The bill would establish the School Cardiac Emergency Response Grant Fund for The Honorable Adam Thomas, Chairperson Page 3—HB 2494 the disbursement of grant funds. Each school district treasurer would be required to deposit any grant awarded in the general fund of the school district. Estimated State Fiscal Effect FY 2024 FY 2025 FY 2026 Expenditures State General Fund -- $2,115,919 $2,096,419 Fee Fund(s) -- -- -- Federal Fund -- -- -- Total Expenditures -- $2,115,929 $2,096,419 Revenues State General Fund -- -- -- Fee Fund(s) -- -- -- Federal Fund -- -- -- Total Revenues -- -- -- FTE Positions -- 11.00 11.00 For the School Safety and Security Grant Program, the Department of Education has administered a similar program since FY 2019 with annual grants to school districts totaling $5.0 million. For FY 2025, the Governor recommends the program continue with a $5.0 million appropriation from the State General Fund. The Department has 2.00 FTE positions for this existing grant program, with expenditures totaling approximately $170,000 from the State General Fund, for salaries and wages, including benefits, of these positions. The Department would utilize these same sources of funding for the School Safety and Security Grant Program outlined in HB 2494. For the School Cardiac Emergency Response Program, the Department of Education indicates that it does not currently have any staff with expertise in cardiac emergency response. As a result, the agency estimates it would require an additional 2.00 FTE positions and $170,000 from the State General Fund in FY 2025. A similar cost estimate was provided by the agency for FY 2026. These staff members would coordinate with various state and local agencies for the creation and maintenance of cardiac emergency response plans that are required to be adopted by school districts. Costs for FY 2026 would be similar to those identified by the Department in FY 2025. The Department of Health and Environment estimates that to administer its grant program and to provide quality technical assistance, FY 2025 administrative expenses totaling $692,676 would be required, including 9.00 FTE positions. This estimate includes 1.00 FTE Program Manager ($88,637, including fringe benefits), 1.00 FTE Grant Manager ($69,493, including fringe benefits), and 7.00 FTE Regional Implementation Specialists ($46,996 X 7.00 FTE = $328,972, including fringe benefits). The new program would require one-time expenditures of $19,500, including $5,500 for automated external defibrillator (AED) training devices and $14,000 for two medical manikins. The agency estimates that annual travel costs of $164,500 would be required The Honorable Adam Thomas, Chairperson Page 4—HB 2494 for the program staff. Finally, annual information technology expenditures totaling $21,574 would be needed, including software, laptop leases, docking stations, and cell phones. In addition, the Department of Health and Environment estimates that $1,253,243 would be required annually for grants to school districts. The agency would propose a regional implementation over a multi-year period, with priority given to smaller districts in rural counties with limited access to emergency and hospital services. The cost per school would be dependent on school district size and any identified needs. The agency estimates that a minimum of $10,000 per school with approximately 50 to 100 schools per year over a multiyear period would be the regional implementation approach used for the program. In total, the total cost for FY 2025 for the Department of Health and Environment would be $1,945,919, including $692,676 for administrative costs and $1,253,243 for grant awards to school districts, all from the State General Fund. Of these total costs, $19,500 would be for one- time costs, including AED training devices and manikins. The Division of the Budget estimates similar costs for FY 2026, minus the one-time FY 2025 of $19,500 identified earlier. Any fiscal effect associated with HB 2494 is not reflected in The FY 2025 Governor’s Budget Report. Sincerely, Adam C. Proffitt Director of the Budget cc: Gabrielle Hull, Department of Education Angie Stallbaumer, Kansas Association of School Boards Amy Penrod, Department of Health & Environment