Louisiana § RS 29:726.6 - Fund and grant program for security measures; eligible applicants

§ RS 29:726.6. Fund and grant program for security measures; eligible applicants

            A. GOHSEP is authorized and directed to establish a grant program through which eligible schools and nonprofit organizations described in Subsection B of this Section can apply for and receive grants to defray the cost of security enhancements or measures including:

            (1) Safety and security planning.

            (2) Safety and security equipment.

            (3) Security-related technology.

            (4) Safety and security training.

            (5) Safety and security exercises.

            (6) Threat awareness and response training.

            (7) Upgrades to existing structures that enhance safety and security.

            (8) Vulnerability and threat assessments.

            (9) Security personnel.

            B.(1) Eligible nonprofit organizations include organizations that meet all of the following requirements:

            (a) The organization is described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and exempt from tax under Section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

            (b) The organization is determined by the program administrator to be at risk of a terrorist attack. Factors the program administrator may consider in making its determination include but are not limited to the following:

            (i) Prior incidents that have occurred at any facility owned or used by the organization.

            (ii) Prior threats made against the organization.

            (iii) Current events or incidents impacting other organizations that have a similar mission, belief, or ideology.

            (iv) Feedback or information on the current local threat environment from local law enforcement agencies, parish offices of homeland security and emergency preparedness, the Louisiana State Analytical and Fusion Exchange, field offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other organizations, entities, or agencies.

            (2) Eligible schools include public elementary or secondary schools in a city, parish, or other local public school district or other political subdivision and nonpublic schools approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education pursuant to R.S. 17:11.

            C.(1) There is hereby established in the state treasury a special fund to be known as the Louisiana School and Nonprofit Security Grant Program Fund, hereinafter referred to in this Subsection as the "fund". Interest earned on the investment of monies in the fund shall be deposited in and credited to the fund. Unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund at the close of each fiscal year shall remain in the fund. Monies in the fund shall be appropriated, administered, and used solely for the purposes of the security grant program as provided by this Section.

            (2) The fund shall be comprised of all monies appropriated, donated, or otherwise made available to provide funding for the purposes of the security grant program as provided by this Section. All of such monies required to be deposited in the state treasury in accordance with Article VII, Section 9(A) of the Constitution of Louisiana shall be deposited in the fund after first meeting the requirements of Article VII, Section 9(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana relative to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund.

            (3) The fund shall be administered by the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

            D. GOHSEP shall adopt any regulations or rules, pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Act, necessary to implement the security grant program established by this Section and to administer the Louisiana School and Nonprofit Security Grant Program Fund.

            Acts 2021, No. 263, §1; Acts 2022, No. 690, §1; Acts 2022, No. 706, §2, eff. July 1, 2023.