§5–317.    IN EFFECT

    ** IN EFFECT UNTIL JUNE 30, 2026 PER CHAPTER 679 OF 2023**

    (a)    In this section, “Program” means the School Safety Grant Program.

    (b)    (1)    There is a School Safety Grant Program.

        (2)    The purpose of the Program is to provide grants to county boards for school security improvements, including:

            (i)    Secure and lockable classroom doors for each classroom in the school;

            (ii)    An area of safe refuge in each classroom in the school; and

            (iii)    Surveillance and other security technology for school monitoring purposes.

    (c)    The Program shall be implemented and administered by the Interagency Commission, in consultation with the Maryland Center for School Safety.

    (d)    The Interagency Commission shall:

        (1)    Provide grants to county boards for public school security improvements;

        (2)    Develop a procedure for a county board to apply for a grant under the Program; and

        (3)    Develop eligibility requirements for a county board to receive a grant under the Program.

    (e)    In addition to the annual amount otherwise provided in the capital improvement program of the Public School Construction Program, the Governor shall provide an additional $10,000,000 in the annual operating or capital budget bill that may be used only to award grants under the Program.

    (f)    The State funding provided under the Program is supplemental to and is not intended to take the place of funding that would otherwise be appropriated for public school construction purposes to a county board from any other source.

    (g)    The Interagency Commission shall adopt regulations necessary to implement this section.