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AN ACT relating to school safety. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 158 IS CREATED TO 3
READ AS FOLLOWS: 4
(1) Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, each school district may implement a 5
wearable panic alert system at each school facility. 6
(2) As used in this section "wearable panic alert system" means a silent security 7
system by which the user manually activates a device that sends a nonaudible 8
signal to the local 911 public safety answering point and emergency responder 9
agencies that indicates a school security emergency that requires immediate 10
response and assistance from the public safety answering point. 11
(3) The wearable panic alert system shall: 12
(a) Connect emergency service technologies to ensure real-time coordination 13
among multiple emergency responder agencies; 14
(b) Integrate with public safety answering point infrastructure to transmit 911 15
calls and mobile activations; and 16
(c) Be capable of initiating a campuswide lockdown notification. 17
(4) The department shall provide a list of approved wearable panic alert systems. At a 18
minimum, an approved system shall: 19
(a) Alert designated school personnel by smartphone application, phone call, 20
text message, or other technology when an emergency response is initiated 21
on-site using the mobile panic alert system; 22
(b) Provide emergency responders with the location and movements of the 23
activator of the wearable panic alert system in order to assist first 24
responders during an emergency; 25
(c) Integrate designated school personnel with emergency responders to 26
provide real-time situational updates during an emergency; and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 277
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(d) Be capable of ingesting data from panic button activations, school safety 1
camera and video data, and other real-time school safety data sources on a 2
single interface. 3
(5) A school district that procures a wearable panic alert system shall: 4
(a) Ensure, before the school year begins, all school building personnel receive 5
training on the protocol and appropriate use of the panic alert device 6
described in subsection (2) of this section; 7
(b) Ensure all security data, including but not limited to cameras, maps, and 8
access control within a school building, are accessible by local law 9
enforcement agencies; 10
(c) Coordinate with all local law enforcement agencies to establish appropriate 11
access protocols; and 12
(d) Provide each staff person with a wearable panic alert system device that 13
allows for immediate contact with local emergency response agencies. 14
(6) (a) The Center for School Safety shall establish a Wearable Panic Alert Grant 15
Program for school districts. 16
(b) The program shall provide a fifty percent (50%) match to school districts for 17
the implementation of a wearable panic alert system or for maintenance 18
costs associated with a wearable panic alert system, if funds are available. 19
Section 2. KRS 158.446 is amended to read as follows: 20
(1) Of the funds appropriated to support the school safety fund program in the biennial 21
budget, no more than[twenty percent (20%) of the funds in 1998-99, and] ten 22
percent (10%) [in 1999-2000, ]shall be used for the operation of the Center for 23
School Safety. 24
(2) The Center for School Safety may distribute wearable panic alert grants in 25
accordance with subsection (6) of Section 1 of this Act using funds appropriated 26
to support the school safety fund program in the biennial budget[ and grants to be 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 25 RS BR 277
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distributed by the Center to support exemplary programs in local school districts]. 1
(3) The remainder of the appropriation shall be distributed to local school districts on a 2
per pupil basis. The funds shall be used for the purpose of improving school safety 3
and student discipline through alternative education programs and intervention 4
services in compliance with KRS 158.148, 158.150, and 158.445. 5
(4) School districts shall be responsible for documenting the purposes for which these 6
funds were expended. 7