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2013 SESSION

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HB 2343 Public school security equipment; issuance of bonds for purpose of grant payments.

Introduced by: Beverly J. Sherwood | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

Public School Security Equipment Grant Act of 2013. Requires the Virginia Public School Authority to issue bonds for the funding of matching grants to local public school divisions for the purchase and installation of security equipment in public schools. The security equipment must be designed to improve and help ensure the safety of students attending public schools in Virginia. The Authority cannot issue more than $6 million in bonds in any fiscal year of the Commonwealth, and no more than an aggregate principal amount of $30 million in bonds may be outstanding at any time under the program. A local school division would be eligible to receive up to $100,000 in security equipment grants each fiscal year. Local school divisions would apply to the Department of Education for the grants, which would be awarded on a competitive basis. The local school division would be required to match 25 percent of the grant amount. The Superintendent of Public Instruction would be authorized to reduce the required match for local school divisions with a composite index of local ability-to-pay less than 0.2000. The provisions of the bill are made contingent upon funding in the general appropriation act.

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

Public School Security Equipment Grant Act of 2013. Requires the Virginia Public School Authority to issue bonds for the funding of matching grants to local public school divisions for the purchase and installation of security equipment in public schools. The security equipment must be designed to improve and help ensure the safety of students attending public schools in Virginia. The Authority cannot issue more than $6 million in bonds in any fiscal year of the Commonwealth, and no more than an aggregate principal amount of $30 million in bonds may be outstanding at any time under the program. A local school division would be eligible to receive up to $100,000 in security equipment grants each fiscal year. Local school divisions would apply to the Department of Education for the grants, which would be awarded on a competitive basis. The local school division would be required to match 25 percent of the grant amount. The Superintendent of Public Instruction would be authorized to reduce the required match for local school divisions with a composite index of local ability-to-pay less than 0.2000.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

School Security Infrastructure Improvement Fund and Local School Safety Fund. Establishes the School Security Infrastructure Improvement Fund and the Local School Safety Fund, to be administered by the Department of Criminal Justice Services.

The School Security Infrastructure Improvement Fund shall be used to make grants and loans to local school divisions for capital infrastructure improvements related to school safety and security. A school division would be required to provide a minimum 10 percent project match for a loan from the Fund and a minimum 50 percent project match for a grant from the Fund. The bill requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services to develop guidelines concerning the grants and loans.

The Local School Safety Fund shall be used to make grants to local school divisions to be used to address school safety, security, and violence prevention needs. The bill requires the Department of Criminal Justice Services, in consultation with the Department of Education, to develop guidelines concerning the grants.