VirginiaSchool Safety Firearm Detection Software Pilot Program; established.
What it does
Public School Security Equipment Grant Act of 2013; eligible security equipment; School Safety Firearm Detection Software Pilot Program established. Establishes the School Safety Firearm Detection Software Pilot Program (the Pilot Program), to be administered as a part of the Public School Security Equipment Grant Act of 2013, for the purpose of enhancing security and firearm violence prevention measures in public schools in the Commonwealth by awarding grants to eligible school divisions for the purchase, installation or integration, maintenance, and operation of firearm detection software into security cameras in two Title 1 schools in each congressional district in the Commonwealth. The bill defines "firearm detection software" as any technology software or system provided by a vendor that (i) is headquartered in the Commonwealth, has at least 10 years of experience in providing school safety technology to educational institutions, and is a small business consisting of fewer than 100 employees and (ii) uses artificial intelligence to analyze video streams from surveillance cameras in real time for the detection of firearms and, upon detecting a firearm, immediately notifies local law enforcement, school security personnel, the school administration, and other appropriate public safety authorities.
More detail
The bill amends provisions of the Public School Security Equipment Grant Act of 2013 as necessary for the integration of the Pilot Program, including by (a) expanding the definition of "security equipment" to include firearm detection software; (b) exempting from the match requirement, in addition to the Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind as set forth in current law, any school division receiving a grant pursuant to the Pilot Program; (c) requiring the Department to give priority to eligible school divisions applying on behalf of Title 1 schools for grants under the Pilot Program such that grants are first awarded to school divisions and in an amount sufficient to support the purchase, installation or integration, maintenance, and operation of firearm detection software in two Title 1 schools in each congressional district; and (d) modifying and expanding application requirements, reporting requirements, and requirements relating to the development of certain guidelines, policies, and procedures to include the Pilot Program. The bill has an expiration date of July 1, 2028.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2025
- Feb 4Left in AppropriationsLatest
- Jan 20Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (8-Y 0-N)
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (8-Y 0-N). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 17Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1818)
- Jan 15Assigned Approps sub: Elementary & Secondary EducationMinor
- Vote recorded Reported from Education with amendment(s) and rereferred to Appropriations (21-Y 0-N). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 15Reported from Education with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations (21-Y 0-N)Minor
- Jan 14Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations (8-Y 0-N)
- Vote recorded Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations (8-Y 0-N). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 11Assigned Educ sub: K-12 SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 6Introduced bill reprinted 25104122D
- Jan 6Referred to Committee on EducationMinor
- Jan 6Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-13-2025 25104122DIntroduced