MD
Maryland Senate Bill SB677

Maryland 2023 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB677 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.
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33 EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
44 [Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
55 *sb0677*
66
77 SENATE BILL 677
88 E4, F5 3lr1683
99
1010 By: Senator Waldstreicher
1111 Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2023
1212 Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
1313
1414 A BILL ENTITLED
1515
1616 AN ACT concerning 1
1717
1818 Maryland Center for School Safety – Statewide Secure Schools Emergency 2
1919 Response Program – Established 3
2020
2121 FOR the purpose of establishing the Statewide Secure Schools Emergency Response 4
2222 Program to be administered by the Maryland Center for School Safety; prohibiting 5
2323 the inspection of certain records related to the Program; requiring the Maryland 6
2424 9–1–1 Board to establish procedures to integrate county 9–1–1 systems with the 7
2525 Program; and generally relating to the establishment of the Statewide Secure 8
2626 Schools Emergency Response Program. 9
2727
2828 BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 10
2929 Article – Education 11
3030 Section 7–1502(a) 12
3131 Annotated Code of Maryland 13
3232 (2022 Replacement Volume) 14
3333
3434 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 15
3535 Article – Education 16
3636 Section 7–1502(g)(20) and (21) 17
3737 Annotated Code of Maryland 18
3838 (2022 Replacement Volume) 19
3939
4040 BY adding to 20
4141 Article – Education 21
4242 Section 7–1502(g)(22) and 7–1513 22
4343 Annotated Code of Maryland 23
4444 (2022 Replacement Volume) 24
4545
4646 BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 25
4747 Article – General Provisions 26
4848 Section 4–314.1 27 2 SENATE BILL 677
4949
5050
5151 Annotated Code of Maryland 1
5252 (2019 Replacement Volume and 2022 Supplement) 2
5353
5454 BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 3
5555 Article – Public Safety 4
5656 Section 1–301(a), (j), (t), and (u) and 1–305(a) 5
5757 Annotated Code of Maryland 6
5858 (2022 Replacement Volume) 7
5959
6060 BY adding to 8
6161 Article – Public Safety 9
6262 Section 1–306(h) 10
6363 Annotated Code of Maryland 11
6464 (2022 Replacement Volume) 12
6565
6666 SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
6767 That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
6868
6969 Article – Education 15
7070
7171 7–1502. 16
7272
7373 (a) There is a Maryland Center for School Safety. 17
7474
7575 (g) The Center shall perform the following functions and duties: 18
7676
7777 (20) Review and comment on school emergency plans developed under § 19
7878 7–1510 of this subtitle; [and] 20
7979
8080 (21) Report to the General Assembly and the Governor on life–threatening 21
8181 incidents as required under § 7–1510 of this subtitle; AND 22
8282
8383 (22) ADMINISTER THE STATEWIDE SECURE SCHOOLS EMERGENCY 23
8484 RESPONSE PROGRAM UNDER § 7–1513 OF THIS SUBTITLE . 24
8585
8686 7–1513. 25
8787
8888 (A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE F OLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 26
8989 INDICATED. 27
9090
9191 (2) “FIRST RESPONDER ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 1–301 OF 28
9292 THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARTICLE. 29
9393
9494 (3) “PANIC BUTTON EVENT ” MEANS AN EMERGENCY S ITUATION THAT 30
9595 COMPELS THE USER OF AN EMERG ENCY NOTIFICATION SY STEM TO PRESS A PANIC 31 SENATE BILL 677 3
9696
9797
9898 BUTTON TO INSTANTLY SUMMON HELP TO THEIR LOCATION FROM FIRST 1
9999 RESPONDERS OR OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY PERSONNEL . 2
100100
101101 (4) “PROGRAM” MEANS THE STATEWIDE SECURE SCHOOLS 3
102102 EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM. 4
103103
104104 (5) “PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY ” HAS THE MEANING STAT ED IN § 1–301 5
105105 OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARTICLE. 6
106106
107107 (6) “PUBLIC SAFETY ANSWERI NG POINT” HAS THE MEANING STATED 7
108108 IN § 1–301 OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY ARTICLE. 8
109109
110110 (B) (1) THERE IS A STATEWIDE SECURE SCHOOLS EMERGENCY 9
111111 RESPONSE PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE CENTER. 10
112112
113113 (2) THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY A ND 11
114114 SECURITY OF PUBLIC S CHOOLS IN THE STATE BY IMPLEME NTING A STATEWIDE 12
115115 EMERGENCY NOTIFICATI ON SYSTEM THAT FACILITATES COMMUNICATION BETWEEN 13
116116 PUBLIC ELEMENTARY AN D SECONDARY SCHOOL PERSONNEL , A PUBLIC SAFETY 14
117117 ANSWERING POINT , AND A PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY IN LIFE–THREATENING AND 15
118118 EMERGENCY SITUATIONS , INCLUDING AN ACTIVE SHOOTER, A MEDICAL 16
119119 EMERGENC Y, SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS, OR AN INTRUDER . 17
120120
121121 (C) ON OR BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1, 2023, THE CENTER, IN CONSULTATION 18
122122 WITH THE MARYLAND 9–1–1 BOARD, SHALL ENSURE THAT TH E PROGRAM HAS BEEN 19
123123 IMPLEMENTED IN EACH PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE STATE. 20
124124
125125 (D) THE PROGRAM SHALL PROCURE AND IMPLEMEN T A SINGLE 21
126126 TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM FOR A SECURE SCHOOLS EMERGENCY RESPONSE 22
127127 PROGRAM THROUGH WHICH AUTHORIZED USERS ARE ABLE TO CONTACT A PUBLIC 23
128128 SAFETY ANSWERING POI NT TO REPORT AND COMMUNICATE DURING 24
129129 LIFE–THREATENING OR EMERG ENCY SITUATIONS . 25
130130
131131 (E) THE TECHNOLOGY PLATFO RM REQUIRED UNDER SUBSECTION (D) OF 26
132132 THIS SECTION SHALL INCLUDE THE FO LLOWING: 27
133133
134134 (1) A CELLULAR PHONE APPLI CATION–BASED, PANIC BUTTON EVENT 28
135135 SYSTEM THAT CAN BE INTEGRAT ED WITH A LOCAL PUBL IC SAFETY ANSWERING 29
136136 POINT THAT IS ABLE TO: 30
137137
138138 (I) PLACE A STANDARD TELEPHONE CALL TO 9–1–1; 31
139139 4 SENATE BILL 677
140140
141141
142142 (II) TEXT COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN AUTHORIZED USERS 1
143143 AND A PUBLIC SAFETY ANSW ERING POINT AND PUBLIC SAFETY AG ENCY; 2
144144
145145 (III) PROVIDE TEXT MESSAGE S, E–MAILS, AND PUSH 3
146146 NOTIFICATIONS TO AUT HORIZED USERS, INCLUDING SCHOOL PER SONNEL, FIRST 4
147147 RESPONDERS , AND OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY PERSONNEL; 5
148148
149149 (IV) AUTOMATICALLY DETECT 9–1–1 CALLS RELATING TO A 6
150150 PUBLIC SCHOOL , INCLUDING CALLS MADE FROM A LANDLINE, CELLULAR PHONE , OR 7
151151 SMARTPHONE APPLICATI ON; 8
152152
153153 (V) ALLOW 9–1–1 DISPATCHERS , FIRST RESPONDERS , OR 9
154154 OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY PERSONNEL TO INITIATE A PANIC BUTTON EVENT 10
155155 AT A PUBLIC SCHOOL AND TO FACILITATE COMMUNICATION AND CO ORDINATION 11
156156 BETWEEN FIRST RESPON DERS OR PUBLIC SAFETY AGE NCY PERSONNEL DURING AN 12
157157 EMERGENCY SITUATION; AND 13
158158
159159 (VI) AUTOMATICALLY TRANSMI T SCHOOL FLOOR PLANS , 14
160160 SCHOOL EMERGENCY PLA NS, AND RELEVANT CONTACT INFORMATION TO FIRST 15
161161 RESPONDERS OR PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCY PERSONNEL RESPONDING TO A PANIC 16
162162 BUTTON EVENT AT A SCHOOL WITHOUT FURTHER ACTI ON NEEDED BY THE USE R 17
163163 REPORTING THE EMERGE NCY; 18
164164
165165 (2) ACTIVATION OF DIFFERE NT SYSTEM RESPONSES BASED ON THE 19
166166 LOCATION OF THE USER INITIATING A PANIC BUTTON EVENT, INCLUDING: 20
167167
168168 (I) PLACEMENT OF A 9–1–1 CALL IF A REPORT IS INITIATED 21
169169 OUTSIDE A SYSTEM–DESIGNATED GEOFENCE ; OR 22
170170
171171 (II) PLACEMENT OF A 9–1–1 CALL AND SENDING OF PUSH 23
172172 NOTIFICATIONS IF A R EPORT IS INITIATED W ITHIN A SYSTEM –DESIGNATED 24
173173 GEOFENCE; 25
174174
175175 (3) CAPABILITY TO G ENERATE AN AUTOMATED EMERGEN CY ALERT 26
176176 NOTIFICATION TO ALL PUBLIC AND NONPU BLIC SCHOOLS IN AN AREA IN 27
177177 REASONABLE PROXIMITY TO A PANIC BUTTON EVENT THAT IS DETERMINED T O BE 28
178178 AN IMMINENT THREAT T O SCHOOL CAMPUSES OR SCHOOL PERSONNEL BY THE 29
179179 PUBLIC SAFETY ANSWERING POI NT RECEIVING THE REP ORT, INCLUDING REPORTS 30
180180 OF: 31
181181
182182 (I) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS KILLED; 32
183183 SENATE BILL 677 5
184184
185185
186186 (II) AN ACCIDENT OR THREAT THAT RESULTED IN SERIOUS 1
187187 BODILY INJURY; 2
188188
189189 (III) AN INDIVIDUAL WHO WAS ASSAULTED WITH A DEADLY 3
190190 WEAPON AND THAT THE ALLEGED ASSAILAN T REMAINS AT LARGE ; AND 4
191191
192192 (IV) THE DISCHARGE OF A FIREARM; AND 5
193193
194194 (4) REAL–TIME COMMUNICATION C APABILITIES TO A LLOW A PUBLIC 6
195195 SAFETY ANSWERING POINT AND OTHER PUBL IC SAFETY AGENCY PERSONNEL TO 7
196196 VERIFY THE AUTHENTIC ITY OF REPORTS OF PA NIC BUTTON EVENTS IF THERE IS A 8
197197 SUSPICION OR EVIDENC E THAT IT IS A FALSE REPORT MA DE BY A THIRD–PARTY, 9
198198 NONAUTHORIZED USER . 10
199199
200200 (F) (1) THE TECHNOLOGY PLATFO RM PROCURED UNDER SUBSECTION 11
201201 (D) OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE CERTIFIED B Y THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT 12
202202 OF HOMELAND SECURITY UNDER THE FEDERAL SUPPORT ANTI–TERRORISM BY 13
203203 FOSTERING EFFECTIVE TECHNOLOGIES ACT. 14
204204
205205 (2) EACH LOCAL SCHOOL SYS TEM SHALL PROVIDE TO THE CENTER 15
206206 FOR EACH PUBLIC SCHO OL IN ITS JURISDICTION: 16
207207
208208 (I) SCHOOL FLOOR PLANS; 17
209209
210210 (II) EMERGENCY RESPONSE PL ANS; AND 18
211211
212212 (III) ACCESS TO OR GEOLOCAT ION COORDINATES FOR THE 19
213213 PROPERTY BOUNDARIES FOR EACH SCHOOL . 20
214214
215215 (3) THE CENTER SHALL PROVIDE THE INFORMATION COMPILED 21
216216 UNDER PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION T O THE VENDOR IMPLEME NTING THE 22
217217 TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM FOR THE PROGRAM. 23
218218
219219 (G) A PERSON PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING CENTER 24
220220 EMPLOYEES AND PUBLIC SAFETY ANSWER ING POINT EMPLOYEES, IS IMMUNE FROM 25
221221 CIVIL OR CRIMINAL LI ABILITY IF THE PERSON ACTS IN GOOD FAITH W HEN 26
222222 RESPONDING TO A REPO RTED THREAT OR EMERG ENCY SITUATION. 27
223223
224224 (H) (1) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024, THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E IN THE 28
225225 ANNUAL BUDGET BILL A N APPROPRIATION OF $4,500,000 FOR THE PROGRAM. 29
226226 6 SENATE BILL 677
227227
228228
229229 (2) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 AND EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER , 1
230230 THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET BILL AN APPROPRIATION 2
231231 OF $1,000,000 FOR THE PROGRAM. 3
232232
233233 Article – General Provisions 4
234234
235235 4–314.1. 5
236236
237237 (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a custodian shall deny 6
238238 inspection of any record disclosing: 7
239239
240240 (1) a safety evaluation or school emergency plan developed under § 7–1510 8
241241 of the Education Article; 9
242242
243243 (2) an emergency response policy developed under § 7 –1509 of the 10
244244 Education Article and § 3–520 of the Public Safety Article; 11
245245
246246 (3) guidelines for school resource officers and supplemental coverage by 12
247247 local law enforcement agencies developed by the Maryland Center for School Safety under 13
248248 § 7–1508 of the Education Article; [or] 14
249249
250250 (4) a plan to implement the Maryland Center for School Safety’s guidelines 15
251251 adopted by a local school system under § 7–1508 of the Education Article; OR 16
252252
253253 (5) A PLAN OR OTHER INFORMATION CREATED FOR , PROVIDED TO, OR 17
254254 DEVELOPED THROUGH THE STATEWIDE SECURE SCHOOLS EMERGENCY RESPONSE 18
255255 PROGRAM UNDER § 7–1513 OF THE EDUCATION ARTICLE. 19
256256
257257 (b) A custodian shall allow inspection of safety evaluation, school emergency plan, 20
258258 and emergency response policy records by the following entities in the performance of the 21
259259 entity’s official duties: 22
260260
261261 (1) the Maryland Center for School Safety; 23
262262
263263 (2) the Interagency Commission on School Construction; 24
264264
265265 (3) the Department of State Police; 25
266266
267267 (4) the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services; 26
268268
269269 (5) the Maryland Department of Emergency Management; 27
270270
271271 (6) local law enforcement agencies; and 28
272272
273273 (7) local organizations for emergency management. 29
274274 SENATE BILL 677 7
275275
276276
277277 Article – Public Safety 1
278278
279279 1–301. 2
280280
281281 (a) In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 3
282282
283283 (j) (1) “First responder” means an employee of a State or local public safety 4
284284 agency that provides emergency response services. 5
285285
286286 (2) “First responder” includes: 6
287287
288288 (i) a firefighter; 7
289289
290290 (ii) a paramedic; 8
291291
292292 (iii) an emergency medical technician; 9
293293
294294 (iv) a rescue squad member; 10
295295
296296 (v) a sworn member of the Office of the State Fire Marshal; 11
297297
298298 (vi) a member of a volunteer fire or rescue company who is a covered 12
299299 employee under § 9–234 of the Labor and Employment Article; 13
300300
301301 (vii) an individual who is licensed or certified under § 13–516 of the 14
302302 Education Article; and 15
303303
304304 (viii) a 9–1–1 specialist. 16
305305
306306 (t) “Public safety agency” means: 17
307307
308308 (1) a functional division of a public agency that provides fire fighting, 18
309309 police, medical, or other emergency services; or 19
310310
311311 (2) a private entity that provides fire fighting, police, medical, or other 20
312312 emergency services on a voluntary basis. 21
313313
314314 (u) “Public safety answering point” means a communications facility that: 22
315315
316316 (1) is operated on a 24–hour basis; 23
317317
318318 (2) first receives 9–1–1 requests for emergency services in a 9–1–1 service 24
319319 area; and 25
320320
321321 (3) as appropriate: 26
322322
323323 (i) dispatches public safety services directly; 27 8 SENATE BILL 677
324324
325325
326326
327327 (ii) transmits incident data to appropriate public safety agencies 1
328328 within the State for the dispatch of public safety services; or 2
329329
330330 (iii) transfers 9–1–1 requests for emergency services or transmits 3
331331 incident data to: 4
332332
333333 1. an appropriate federal emergency communication center 5
334334 responsible for the delivery of public safety services on a federal campus or federal 6
335335 reservation; or 7
336336
337337 2. an appropriate public safety answering point located 8
338338 within or outside the State. 9
339339
340340 1–305. 10
341341
342342 (a) There is a Maryland 9–1–1 Board in the Maryland Department of Emergency 11
343343 Management. 12
344344
345345 1–306. 13
346346
347347 (H) (1) THE BOARD SHALL AID THE MARYLAND CENTER FOR SCHOOL 14
348348 SAFETY IN OPERATING T HE STATEWIDE SECURE SCHOOLS EMERGENCY RESPONSE 15
349349 PROGRAM ESTABLISHED U NDER § 7–1513 OF THE EDUCATION ARTICLE. 16
350350
351351 (2) THE BOARD SHALL ESTABLISH PROCEDURES TO INTEGR ATE 17
352352 COUNTY 9–1–1 SYSTEMS WITH THE STATEWIDE SECURE SCHOOLS EMERGENCY 18
353353 RESPONSE PROGRAM. 19
354354
355355 SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 20
356356 1, 2023. 21