Concerning modification of the school security disbursement program.
Summary
HB26-1321 modifies Colorado’s school security disbursement program, which provides grant funding for school safety-related training and services. The bill narrows and clarifies which nonprofit organizations may qualify as “eligible nonprofit organizations” to receive disbursements. Under the bill, a qualifying nonprofit must be Colorado-based, tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3), and have experience providing school safety incident response, violence prevention, or behavioral health training and expertise at no cost to local education providers, law enforcement agencies, and other local first responders in Colorado.
The bill also changes how the Department of Public Safety administers the program by requiring that grant money awarded for an upcoming school year be disbursed no later than August 1 of that calendar year. In addition, the department must continue prioritizing applicants that either match the grant amount with their own financial resources or agree to provide training at no charge to local education providers, local law enforcement agencies, and other local first responders. The bill retains the existing requirement that funded uses be likely to improve security in public school facilities or vehicles and not likely to worsen identified student disciplinary disparities.
Impact
The bill amends Colorado Revised Statutes section 24-33.5-1810, which governs the school security disbursement program and related definitions, application standards, and grant administration. Its practical effect is to limit eligibility for nonprofit applicants to Colorado-based organizations and to expand the program’s focus to include violence prevention and behavioral health training, while also adding a firm deadline for distribution of awarded funds. These changes affect the Department of Public Safety, nonprofit grant applicants, local education providers, law enforcement agencies, and other first responders that participate in school safety training or services.
Sentiment
The available legislative record shows limited discussion, but the bill’s structure suggests a generally supportive policy goal of improving school safety funding efficiency and ensuring local, Colorado-based providers are prioritized. The bill’s emphasis on no-cost training and faster grant distribution indicates an intent to make the program more responsive and accessible to schools and first responders. However, the Senate Committee on Education ultimately postponed the bill indefinitely, indicating that it did not advance and that there may have been unresolved concerns or insufficient support.
Contention
The main points of contention appear to be the narrowed eligibility criteria for nonprofit organizations and the operational requirement that all awarded funds be disbursed by August 1. Some stakeholders may favor broader eligibility to include out-of-state or national organizations with relevant expertise, while others may support the bill’s preference for Colorado-based nonprofits and free training commitments. The indefinite postponement in the Senate Committee on Education suggests that committee members may have had concerns about the bill’s implementation, funding timing, or the scope of eligible providers, but no transcript is available to identify specific objections.