Section 923.3-A. School Safety and Security Enhancements.--(a) Legislative Findings; Declaration of Policy. The welfare of this Commonwealth requires that all school children should be afforded the opportunity to attend a school that is safe and secure. It is the intent of the General Assembly to ensure that all of this Commonwealth's nonpublic schools are afforded opportunities to provide safety and security enhancements for their students similar to the opportunities provided to the public schools.
(b) Definitions. As used in this section:
"Commission" means the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. (Def. added July 11, 2024, P.L.618, No.55)
"Nonpublic school" means any school, other than a public school within this Commonwealth, wherein a resident of this Commonwealth may legally fulfill the compulsory school attendance requirements of this act and which meets the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Public Law 88-352, 78 Stat. 241).
"School safety and security enhancements" means programs which are designed to address school safety and security and listed in section 1306.1-B(j), which are secular and nonideological in nature. (Def. amended Dec. 13, 2023, P.L.187, No.33)
(c) Program of School Safety and Security Enhancements. A program of school security enhancements shall be provided for nonpublic schools in accordance with standards developed by the School Safety and Security Committee established under section 1302-B in consultation with the Department of Education and pursuant to section 1306.1-B. ((c) amended July 11, 2024, P.L.618, No.55)
(d) Limitations. In carrying out the duties of this section and the School Safety and Security Grant Program, the commission may not use more than five per centum (5%) of the funds it receives under this section for grant administration. ((d) amended July 11, 2024, P.L.618, No.55)
(923.3-A amended June 28, 2019, P.L.146, No.18)