EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0782*
HOUSE BILL 782
F1 5lr2969
By: Delegate Atterbeary
Introduced and read first time: January 29, 2025
Assigned to: Ways and Means
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Study on Detecting Deadly Weapons in Public Middle and High Schools 2
FOR the purpose of requiring the State Department of Education to study how best to 3
detect deadly weapons in public middle and high schools and how best to rapidly 4
report the detection of weapons to a law enforcement agency; and generally relating 5
to a study on detecting deadly weapons in public middle and high schools. 6
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 7
That: 8
(a) The State Department of Education shall study how best to: 9
(1) detect deadly weapons on public middle and high school properties; and 10
(2) have schools rapidly report the detection of a deadly weapon to a law 11
enforcement agency. 12
(b) (1) The study required under this section shall include a comprehensive 13
audit of the current security infrastructure used in each public school system in the State. 14
(2) The audit shall include an evaluation of: 15
(i) physical and technological security measures currently in use; 16
and 17
(ii) any gaps or areas that require improvement within the current 18
security system. 19
(c) The study shall, at minimum, include an evaluation of: 20
(1) any available methods not currently used by the public school systems 21 2 HOUSE BILL 782
in the State and the feasibility of using those methods to help fill gaps or make 1
improvements in the security system identified in the comprehensive audit; 2
(2) how the current security system could best be adapted to achieve better 3
detection of deadly weapons and quicker reporting to law enforcement agencies when 4
deadly weapons have been detected; 5
(3) software that uses artificial intelligence to identify deadly weapons, and 6
the necessary steps to ensure that the software works effectively, including integration with 7
security cameras and other currently used safety measures; 8
(4) an increased use of security cameras in public middle and high schools 9
and their ideal placement; and 10
(5) an increased use of metal detectors, including handheld metal 11
detectors, in public middle and high school entrances. 12
(d) On or before December 1, 2025, in a manner that does not jeopardize school 13
safety, the State Department of Education shall report, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the 14
State Government Article, on the findings of its study to the Speaker of the House and the 15
House Ways and Means Committee. 16
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect June 17
1, 2025. It shall remain effective for a period of 1 year and 1 month and, at the end of June 18
30, 2026, this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be 19
abrogated and of no further force and effect. 20