Committee Report

March 27, 2024

 

H. 5144

 

Introduced by Reps. B. J. Cox, Elliott and Wooten

 

S. Printed 03/27/24--H.

Read the first time February 27, 2024

 

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The committee on House Education and Public Works

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 5144) to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by adding Section 59-5-105 so as to create the School Mapping Data Program within the State Department of Education for, etc., respectfully

Report:

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass with amendment:

 

    Amend the bill, as and if amended, SECTION 1, by striking Section 59-5-105(B)(1) and (2) and inserting:

    (B)(1) To facilitate efficient emergency responses in public schools by public safety agencies in this State, the School Mapping Data Program is established as a statewide initiative within the State Department of Education. Subject to funding, the department shall contract with a vendor to provide school mapping data for each public school in the State, including charter schools and special schools. The data must be provided to each school district and charter school authorizer for the schools within their respective jurisdictions, local law enforcement agencies, and public safety agencies for use in response to emergencies. For purposes of this section, emergencies include, but are not limited to, any event in which a law enforcement officer, firefighter, rescue squad, emergency medical service provider, public safety telecommunicator, or any other emergency management provider may respond.

       (2) In addition to requirements set forth by the Department and in consultation with the Center for School Safety and Targeted Violence within the State Law Enforcement Division, school mapping data must:

           (a) be compatible with software platforms used by local, county, state, and federal public safety agencies that provide emergency services to the specific school for which the data is provided without requiring such agencies to purchase additional software or requiring a fee to view or access the data;

           (b) be compatible with security software platforms in use by the specific school for which the data is provided without requiring the local law enforcement agencies or school districts to purchase additional software or requiring a fee to view or access the data; and

           (c) provide that any updates to school mapping data as defined by this section must be accessible within software platforms used by local, county, state, and federal public safety agencies that provide emergency services to the specific school.

Amend the bill further, SECTION 1, by striking Section 59-5-105(C) and inserting:

    (C) School districts and charter schools must pay annual maintenance fees to update their school maps to ensure the school floor plans and aerial imagery are accurate and up to date. If the annual maintenance fee exceeds six hundred fifty dollars per school and the district or charter cannot afford the fee, the district or charter school shall submit a request to the State Superintendent of Education that state funds be requested of the General Assembly to cover the fees.

 

Renumber sections to conform.

Amend title to conform.

 

SHANNON ERICKSON for Committee.

 

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A bill

 

TO AMEND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CODE OF LAWS BY ADDING SECTION 59-5-105 SO AS TO CREATE THE SCHOOL MAPPING DATA PROGRAM WITHIN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF FACILITATING EFFICIENT EMERGENCY RESPONSES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES, TO DEFINE NECESSARY TERMS, TO PROVIDE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROGRAM AND ITS IMPLEMENTATION BY THE DEPARTMENT, AND TO PROVIDE RELATED REQUIREMENTS OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

 

SECTION 1.  Chapter 5, Title 59 of the S.C. Code is amended by adding:

 

    Section 59-5-105.  (A) For purposes of this section, "school mapping data" means information collected pursuant to this section in an electronic or a digital format and provided to assist first responders in responding to emergencies at school.

    (B)(1) To facilitate efficient emergency responses in public schools by public safety agencies in this State, the School Mapping Data Program is established as a statewide initiative within the State Department of Education. Subject to funding, the department shall contract with a vendor to provide school mapping data for each public school in the State. The data must be provided to each school district, local law enforcement agencies, and public safety agencies for use in response to emergencies. For purposes of this section, emergencies include, but are not limited to, any event in which a law enforcement officer, firefighter, rescue squad, emergency medical service provider, public safety telecommunicator, or any other emergency management provider may respond.

        (2) School mapping data must:

            (a) be compatible with software platforms used by local, county, state, and federal public safety agencies that provide emergency services to the specific school for which the data is provided without requiring such agencies to purchase additional software or requiring a fee to view or access the data;

           (b) be compatible with security software platforms in use by the specific school for which the data is provided without requiring the local law enforcement agencies or school districts to purchase additional software or requiring a fee to view or access the data;

           (c) be in a printable format and, if requested in addition subsection (B), be in a digital file format that may be integrated into interactive mobile platforms in use;

            (d) be verified by the entity producing the data for accuracy by a walk-through of school buildings and grounds;

            (e) be oriented true north;

            (f) include accurate floor plans overlaid on current, verified aerial imagery of the campus, which must be updated by the department as it considers necessary;

            (g) contain site-specific labeling that matches the structure of school buildings, including room labels, hallway names, and external door or stairwell numbers and locations of hazards, critical utility locations, key boxes, automated external defibrillators, and trauma kits;

            (h) contain site-specific labeling that matches the school grounds, including parking areas, athletic fields, surrounding roads, and neighboring properties;

            (i) be overlaid with gridded x and y coordinates; and

            (j) any updates to school mapping data as defined by this section must be accessible within software platforms used by local, county, state, and federal public safety agencies that provide emergency services to the specific school.

    (C) Each school district must be required to pay an annual maintenance fee to update their school map to ensure the school floor plans and aerial imagery are accurate and up to date. This fee may not exceed six hundred fifty dollars for each school.

 

SECTION 2.  This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.

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