(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. (2) "Emergency event" means an emergency situation that requires an immediate response by first responders. (3) "First responder" has the meaning stated in § 1-301 of the Public Safety Article. (4) "Program" means the Secure Schools Emergency Response Grant Program. (5) "Public safety agency" has the meaning stated in § 1-301 of the Public Safety Article. (6) "Public safety answering point" has the meaning stated in § 1- 301 of the Public Safety Article. (b) (1) There is a Secure Schools Emergency Response Grant Program administered by the Center. (2) The purpose of the Program is to provide grants to local school systems to improve emergency notification systems and communication between public elementary and secondary school personnel, a public safety answering point, and a public safety agency during emergency events. (3) A local school system awarded a grant by the Center under the Program shall use the funds to: (i) Improve emergency notification systems; or (ii) Enhance communications within the school and with public safety agencies. (4) Each county board, in consultation with local law enforcement and a local public safety answering point, may apply to the Center for a grant under the Program. (c) An emergency notification system and the communications under subsection (b)(3) of this section may include the following: (1) A cellular phone application-based emergency event system that: (i) Can be integrated with a local public safety answering point; and (ii) Is able to: 1. Place a standard telephone call to 9-1-1; 2. Text communications between authorized users and a public safety answering point and public safety agency; 3. Provide text messages, e-mails, and push notifications to authorized users, including school personnel, first responders, and other public safety agency personnel; and 4. Automatically transmit school floor plans, school emergency plans, and relevant contact information to first responders or public safety agency personnel responding to a panic button event at a school without further action needed by the user reporting the emergency; (2) The capability to generate an automated emergency alert notification to all public and nonpublic schools located in reasonable proximity to an emergency situation that is determined to be an imminent threat to school campuses or school personnel by the public safety answering point receiving the report; and (3) Intercoms, school public address systems, bidirectional antennas or boosters, and other technology that will improve emergency notification and communication, as identified by the Center. (d) On or before September 1, 2026, the Center shall ensure that the Program is operating and available to each county board. (e) The Governor may include in the annual budget bill an appropriation for the Program.
‹ Prev All Maryland sections Next ›
Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.