HB1327: HB1327 Education; install key boxes at each school building in locations determined in collaboration with local law enforcement; provide

26 LC 63 0125S The House Committee on Education offers the following substitute to HB 1327: A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 27 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Co de of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to loitering at or disrupting schools, so as to require the local board of education or2 other governing body of each public and private elementary and secondary school in this3 state to install key boxes at each school building; to provide for an exception; to provide for4 the purpose, content, and minimum standards of such key boxes; to provide for policies and5 procedures; to provide for immunity from civil liability; to pr ovide for related matters; to6 repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8 SECTION 1.9 Article 27 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Geo rgia Annotated, relating to10 loitering at or disrupting schools, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as11 follows:12 "20-2-1187.13 (a) Unless a local board of education or other governing body has implemented a14 documented and formal process for the implementation of a rapid access program for first15 responders that enables the law enforcement officers, who are most likely to be the first to16 H. B. 1327 (SUB) - 1 - 26 LC 63 0125S respond to an emergency, with access to any locked external or internal door locks, the17 local board of education or other governing body of each public and private elementary and18 secondary school in this state shall provide for the installation at each school of at least one19 exterior key box that meets or exceeds Underwriters Laboratories Standard 1037.20 (b) Each key box under subsection (a) of this Code section shall:21 (1) Be installed at an appropriate location for permitting local law enforcement officers22 emergency access to such building, the precise location of which shall be determined by23 such local board of education or other governing body; and24 (2) Contain such keys and other access control devices as are necessary to access each25 building and room located on the entire school grounds.26 (c) The local board of education or other governing body of ea ch public and private27 elementary and secondary school in this state shall adopt such policies and procedures as28 are necessary to implement the provisions of this Code section.29 (d)(1) Local boards of education, other public and private school governing bodies, local30 school systems, other public and private schools, and local gov ernments and agencies31 shall be immune from civil liability for any damages arising ou t of the installation and32 use of key boxes under subsection (a) of this Code section.33 (2) Employees of local boards of education, other public and private school governing34 bodies, local school systems, other public and private schools, and local governments and35 agencies shall be immune from civil liability for any damages a rising out of the36 installation and use of key boxes under subsection (a) of this Code section unless it is37 shown that such employee acted with gross negligence or bad faith."38 SECTION 2.39 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.40 H. B. 1327 (SUB) - 2 -