I 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 7357 

To allow certain funds provided in response to the public health emergency 

with respect to COVID–19 to be made available for school security 

measures, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 14, 2024 

Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS (for herself and Mr. GUEST) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Accountability 

A BILL 

To allow certain funds provided in response to the public 

health emergency with respect to COVID–19 to be made 

available for school security measures, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Securing Our Schools 

5 Act of 2024’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS FOR SCHOOL SECURITY 

2 MEASURES. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi4 sion of law, the unobligated balance of amounts made 

5 available under section 602 or 603 of the Social Security 

6 Act (42 U.S.C. 802 and 803) to any State, territory, Trib7 al Government, metropolitan city, or other units of local 

8 government (as such terms are defined for purposes of 

9 such sections) may be made available to carry out school 

10 security measures. 

11 (b) NONREQUIREMENT OF RESPONSE TO PUBLIC

12 HEALTH EMERGENCY.—The use of amounts pursuant to 

13 the authority provided by subsection (a) shall not be re14 quired to be in response to, or in any way connected with, 

15 COVID–19 or the public health emergency with respect 

16 to COVID–19. 

17 (c) SCHOOL SECURITY MEASURE.—For purposes of 

18 this Act, the term ‘‘school security measure’’ means any 

19 of the following: 

20 (1) An evidence-based strategy or program to 

21 prevent violence, which may include the use of ap22 propriate technologies, including the placement and 

23 use of metal detectors and other deterrent measures 

24 and emergency notification and response tech25 nologies. 


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1 (2) Training to prevent student violence against 

2 others and self, including training for local law en3 forcement officers, school personnel, and students. 

4 (3) The development and operation of an anon5 ymous reporting system for threats of school vio6 lence, including a mobile telephone application, hot7 line, or internet website. 

8 (4) The development and operation of— 

9 (A) a school threat assessment and inter10 vention team that may include coordination 

11 with law enforcement agencies and school per12 sonnel; and 

13 (B) specialized training for school officials 

14 in responding to mental health crises. 

15 (5) Coordination with local law enforcement 

16 agencies. 

17 (6) A security assessment. 

18 (7) Security training of personnel and students. 

19 (8) Acquisition and installation of technology 

20 for expedited notification of local law enforcement 

21 during an emergency. 

22 (9) Reinforcing or replacing classroom doors, 

23 locks, or window panels. 


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1 (10) Constructing fencing, bollards, planters, 

2 curbs, walls, or any other entry control measure to 

3 create a single point of entry to the campus. 

4 (11) Clearing exterior spaces of foliage or struc5 tures to eliminate spaces that could conceal illicit ac6 tivity, provide access to the building above the first 

7 floor, or otherwise aid an intruder. 

8 (12) Installing a system to monitor hallways, 

9 stairwells, and utility rooms, such as physical inspec10 tion or surveillance cameras. 

11 (13) Hiring and paying the salaries of qualified 

12 individuals, such as retired law enforcement officers 

13 or military veterans, to serve as armed school re14 source officers. 

Æ 


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