,,ii #aagth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #dhde ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #ad1 #bjbb,mr4 ,cruz 7for himself and ,mr4 ,barrasso7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to provide for safe schools and safe communities4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,securing ,our ,schools ,act of #bjbb4 #b4 ,nonprofit security grant program ,section #bjji of the ,homeland ,security ,act of #bjjb 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #fji;a7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7e71 by striking #bjbj through #bjbd and inserting #bjbc through #bjcj2 7#b7 by redesignating subsection 7f7 as subsection 7i72 7#c7 by inserting after subsection 7e7 the following3 7f7 ,feedback 7#a7 ,in general ,if the ,administrator denies an application for a grant under this section1 not later than #abj days after the date of the denial1 the ,administrator shall-- 7,a7 notify the applicant2 and 7,b7 provide an explanation for the denial4 7#b7 ,explanation ,an explanation described in paragraph 7#a77;,b7 shall include information identifying the reason for the denial of the application1 including-- 7,a7 any factors that led to a lower score or rank compared to other applicants2 and 7,b7 an identification of any deficiencies in the application4 7g7 ,administrative costs and technical assistance ,a ,state through which the ,administrator makes a grant to an eligible nonprofit organization under this section shall receive a #e-percent increase in the amount of the grant-- 7#a7 for administrative costs2 and 7#b7 to provide technical assistance to the eligible nonprofit organization4 7h7 ,application update and improvements 7#a7 ,public meeting ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of the ,securing ,our ,schools ,act of #bjbb1 the ,administrator shall hold a public meeting to solicit recommendations on updating the application process for a grant under this section4 7#b7 ,report ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of the ,securing ,our ,schools ,act of #bjbb1 the ,administrator shall-- 7,a7 develop recommendations to modernize and update the application process for a grant under this section1 which shall include considerations for-- 7i7 establishing a more streamlined application process2 7ii7 establishing greater uniformity in the application process among all applicants and the guidance provided to ,states through which the ,administrator makes grants to eligible nonprofit organizations under this section2 7iii7 ensuring that the application template is compatible with the latest or most widely used version of software programs2 and 7iv7 coordinating with the ,administrator of ,general ,services to ensure that applications submitted under this section are compatible across online platforms of the ,federal ,government2 and 7,b7 submit to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs of the ,senate and the ,committee on ,homeland ,security of the ,house of ,representatives a report that includes-- 7i7 the recommendations developed under subparagraph 7,a72 and 7ii7 a description of whether the recommendations developed under subparagraph 7,a7 are consistent with feedback received at the public meeting required under paragraph 7#a74 7#c7 ,implementation of recommendations ,not later than #bgj days after the date of enactment of the ,securing ,our ,schools ,act of #bjbb1 the ,administrator shall implement the recommendations developed under paragraph 7#b77;,a74 7#d7 ,paperwork reduction act waiver ,for the purpose of meeting the deadlines established under this subsection1 the ,secretary may waive the application of subchapter ,i of chapter #ce of title #dd1 ,united ,states ,code1 to the requirements of this subsection4 2 and 7#d7 in subsection 7i71 as so redesignated-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a71 by striking #ge million for each of fiscal years #bjbj through #bjbd and inserting #edj1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjbc through #bjcj2 7,b7 by striking paragraph 7#b72 and 7,c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#b7 ,high-risk urban areas ,of the amounts made available to carry out this section for each of fiscal years #bjbc through #bjcj1 not less than #j4ce percent shall be for grants to eligible recipients located in each high-risk urban area receiving grants under section #bjjc4 7#c7 ,salaries and expenses ,of the amounts made available to carry out this section in any fiscal year1 the ,administrator may transfer to another account of the ,federal ,emergency ,management ,agency not more than #c percent for salaries and administrative expenses1 including any necessary expenses to provide feedback or technical assistance to applicants for a grant under this section in accordance with subsection 7g74 4 #c4 ,securing schools 7a7 ,in general 7#a7 ,appropriation ,there are authorized to be appropriated1 and there are appropriated1 to the ,secretary of ,education to carry out subpart #a of part ,a of title ,,iv of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #gaaa71 #b1efj1jjj1jjj for fiscal years #bjbc to #bjcb4 7#b7 ,school security ,the ,secretary of ,education shall use #ej percent of the funds appropriated under paragraph 7#a7 to carry out clause 7v7 of section #dajd7;b77#c77;,b7 of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #gaad7;b77#c77;,b774 7b7 ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife ,section #dajd of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #gaad7 is amended in subsection 7b77#c77;,b7-- 7#a7 in clause 7iii71 by striking and at the end2 and 7#b7 by inserting after clause 7iv7 the following3 7v7 improving school conditions for student learning1 by enabling local educational agencies to use funds available under subsection 7a77#c7 for the purpose of planning and designing school buildings and facilities1 installing infrastructure1 and implementing technology or other measures1 that strengthen security on school premises1 which may include-- 7,i7 controlling access to school premises or facilities1 through the use of metal detectors1 or other measures1 or technology1 with evidence-based effectiveness 7to the extent the ,state involved determines that such evidence is reasonably available71 which may include-- 7aa7 secured campus external gate or locked doors or check-in points2 7bb7 active shooter alert systems2 7cc7 access control2 7dd7 internal door locks2 7ee7 peepholes for classroom doors2 7ff7 school site alarm and protection systems2 7gg7 metal detectors or x-ray machines 7including portable72 7hh7 door locking mechanisms and access control doors2 7ii7 increased lighting on school grounds2 7jj7 emergency call boxes2 7kk7 two-way radios2 7ll7 emergency alerts2 7mm7 surveillance cameras or systems and infrastructure 7such as poles and wiring72 7nn7 software costs and warranties2 7oo7 fencing and gating2 and 7pp7 emergency generators to provide back-up power for phone systems1 critical lighting1 and essential outlets2 7,,ii7 implementing any technology or measure1 or installing any infrastructure1 to cover and conceal students within the school during crisis situations2 7,,iii7 implementing technology to provide coordination with law enforcement and notification to relevant law enforcement and first responders during such a situation1 which shall include-- 7aa7 emergency planning and preparation2 7bb7 emphasis on a school safety plan with buy in from all elements of the school community1 including board members1 employees1 students1 parents1 law enforcers1 government and business leaders1 the media1 and local residents2 7cc7 school implementation of threat assessment programs2 7dd7 development of district-based mandatory incident reporting systems2 7ee7 establishment of local school safety advisory groups 7including parents1 families1 judges1 first responders1 health and human service professionals1 and mental health professionals72 7ff7 evidence-based training for school resource officers1 school personnel1 and students to prevent student violence to enable them to recognize and quickly respond to warning signs2 7gg7 development and operations of anonymous reporting systems2 7hh7 evidence-based school threat assessment and crisis intervention teams2 7ii7 programs to facilitate coordination with local law enforcement2 7jj7 liability and insurance for school districts2 7kk7 trauma-informed training for school staff on responses to active shooter situations2 and 7ll7 community engagement for planning and implementing safety policies and procedures2 7,,iv7 implementing any technology or measure1 including hiring school security officers1 or installing any infrastructure1 with evidence-based effectiveness 7to the extent the ,state involved determines that such evidence is reasonably available7 to increase the safety of school students and staff2 7,v7 implementing any technology or measure1 or installing any infrastructure1 for school safety reinforcement1 including bullet-resistant doors and windows2 and 7,,vi7 implementing any technology or system that would reduce the time needed to disseminate official information to parents regarding the safety of their children during and immediately following a crisis2 4 #d4 ,improving school security through the ,,cops ,,on ,,the ,,beat program ,section #agja7;b7 of title ,i of the ,omnibus ,crime ,control and ,safe ,streets ,act of #aifh 7#cd ,u4,s4,c4 #ajcha7;b77 is amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#bb71 by striking and at the end2 7#b7 in paragraph 7#bc71 by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon2 and 7#c7 by adding at the end the following3 7#bd7 to pay salaries and expenses of school resource officers at public1 charter1 and private elementary schools and secondary schools 7as such terms are defined under section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja772 and 7#be7 to improve physical school security at public1 charter1 and private elementary schools and secondary schools 7as such terms are defined under section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja77 by obtaining security equipment to protect students in schools and equip law enforcement officers responding to school security issues and installing physical structure improvements1 including-- 7,a7 fencing1 external gates1 door locks1 and check-in points1 to establish a secured campus2 7,b7 active shooter alert systems2 7,c7 access controls2 7,d7 internal door locks2 7,e7 school site alarm and protection systems2 7,f7 metal detector or x-ray machines 7including portable machines72 7,g7 ballistic safety equipment for schools and responding law enforcement officers2 7,h7 increased lighting on school grounds2 7,i7 emergency call boxes2 7,j7 two-way radios2 7,k7 emergency alert systems2 7,l7 surveillance cameras or systems1 including infrastructure for such systems such as poles and wiring2 7,m7 software costs and warranties2 and 7,n7 emergency generators to provide back-up power for phone systems1 critical lighting1 and essential outlets4 4 #e4 ,student mental health 7a7 ,student access to mental health program fund 7#a7 ,definitions ,in this subsection3 7,a7 ,eligible school ,the term eligible school means a school in which the lowest grade at the school is not lower than grade #f and the highest grade at the school is not higher than grade #ab4 7,b7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,education4 7#b7 ,student access to mental health program fund 7,a7 ,in general ,from the funds made available to carry out section #bjja of the ,american ,rescue ,plan ,act of #bjba 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #cdja note71 #aj1jjj1jjj1jjj shall be transferred to establish the ,student ,access to ,mental ,health ,program ,fund1 to remain available through ,september #cj1 #bjca4 ,the ,secretary shall use amounts available in such ,fund to award grants to ,states1 from allocations under subparagraph 7,b71 to enable the ,states to support the salary of a mental health professional in eligible schools located in the ,state4 7,b7 ,allocation ,from the amounts available in the ,fund established under subparagraph 7,a71 the ,secretary shall make an allocation to each ,state in the same proportion as the number of eligible schools located in the ,state4 7,c7 ,partnership 7i7 ,in general ,a ,state awarded a grant under this subsection shall comply with the following3 7,i7 ,the ,state shall use the grant funds to cover the cost of the salary1 which shall be not more than #ee1jjj1 for #aj years for a mental health professional to serve eligible schools located in the ,state4 ,such mental health professional shall serve not more than #e eligible schools in any school year by rotating among the schools for not less than #a day a week at each such school4 7,,ii7 ,the ,state shall expend non-,federal funds to pay for the other costs of recruitment1 training1 and benefits for each such mental health professional1 and any other expenses related to such employment4 7ii7 ,conditions of grants ,a ,state awarded a grant under this subsection shall require that each eligible school served by the grant-- 7,i7 provide to the parents of any student enrolled in the school who has not reached age #ai who meets with a mental health professional employed at the school with all counseling records and mental health assessments for such student2 7,,ii7 not teach ,critical ,race ,theory or include ,critical ,race ,theory in any school program2 and 7,,iii7 not advocate for abortion or abortion services in any form4 7b7 ,funds for programs ,the unobligated balance of funds made available to carry out sections #bjba and #fjjb of the ,american ,rescue ,plan ,act of #bjba 7,public ,law #aag-b7 shall be transferred to1 and evenly divided among1 the following programs3 7#a7 ,project ,,aware ,state ,educational ,agency ,grant ,program carried out by the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services4 7#b7 ,student ,support and ,academic ,enrichment ,grant ,program carried out by the ,secretary of ,education4 7#c7 ,community ,mental ,health ,services ,block ,grant ,program carried out by the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services4 7#d7 ,children's ,mental ,health ,initiative of the ,substance ,abuse and ,mental ,health ,services ,administration4 7c7 ,best practices 7#a7 ,,esea definitions ,in this subsection1 the terms elementary school and secondary school have the meanings given the terms in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 7#b7 ,development and dissemination of best practices ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,administrator of the ,substance ,abuse and ,mental ,health ,services ,administration1 the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services1 and the ,secretary of ,education shall work in consultation to-- 7,a7 develop best practices for identifying warning signs of mental health problems with students and identify warning signs for teachers and administrator that a student is at high-risk for violence1 specifically for a mass shooting2 7,b7 develop best practices for identifying warning signs of mental health problems with children and identify warning signs for individuals who work at a social service agency that a child under the age of #ah is at high-risk for violence1 specifically for a mass shooting2 and 7,c7 disseminate the best practices developed under subparagraphs 7,a7 and 7,b7 to each elementary school and secondary school in the ,united ,states1 and publish the best practices on a publicly accessible website of the ,department of ,education and the ,substance ,abuse and ,mental ,health ,services ,administration4 7d7 ,,gao study 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall conduct a study on how many elementary schools and secondary schools in the ,united ,states have a mental health provider for students1 how many students take advantage of the mental health services1 the main causes for students to access the services4 7#b7 ,,esea definitions ,in this subsection1 the terms elementary school and secondary school have the meanings given the terms in section #haja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 #f4 ,authorization and appropriations of funds ,the unobligated balance of funds made available to carry out section #ahjjc of division ,b of the ,,cares ,act 7,public ,law #aaf-acf2 #acd ,stat4 #efe71 section #cac of the ,coronavirus ,response and ,relief ,supplemental ,appropriations ,act1 #bjba 7division ,m of ,public ,law #aaf-bfj2 #acd ,stat4 #aibi71 and section #bjja of the ,american ,rescue ,plan ,act of #bjba 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #cdja note7 shall be transferred to the ,secretary of ,education to be used to carry out this ,act in an amount not to exceed #ch1jjj1jjj1jjj4 #g4 ,no ,federal funding for abortions 7a7 ,in general ,no funds authorized or appropriated by this ,act1 or an amendment made by this ,act1 shall be expended for any abortion or counseling that results in encouraging1 facilitating1 or referral for an abortion4 7b7 ,health benefits coverage ,no funds authorized or appropriated by this ,act1 or an amendment made by this ,act1 shall be expended for health benefits coverage that includes coverage of abortion4 7c7 ,exceptions ,the limitations established in paragraphs 7a7 and 7b7 shall not apply to an abortion-- 7#a7 if the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest2 or 7#b7 in the case where a woman suffers from a physical disorder1 physical injury1 or physical illness1 including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself1 that would1 as certified by a physician1 place the woman in danger of death unless an abortion is performed4