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H 2579

An Act establishing the Massachusetts school safety data grant program

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Rob Consalvo

Establishes the Massachusetts School Safety Data Grant Program to fund safety agencies creating on-site verified, standardized school mapping data to speed emergency responses.

Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
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Bill Summary · H 2579

Summary: H 2579 — An Act Establishing the Massachusetts School Safety Data Grant Program

Overview

  • Bill Number: H 2579
  • Title: An Act establishing the Massachusetts school safety data grant program
  • Introduced: February 27, 2025
  • Current status: Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the House Ways and Means; Senate concurrence noted in legislative actions
  • Primary sponsor: Representative Rob Consalvo
  • Related bill: HD 1970 (replaces)

Purpose and intent

The bill establishes the Massachusetts School Safety Data Grant Program within the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (the “Office”). Its core goal is to provide grants to public safety agencies across the Commonwealth to develop standardized, verifiable school mapping data. The data would create a single, accurate source of school mapping information to improve the speed and effectiveness of emergency responses on school campuses.

Key provisions

Establishment and administration

  • Creates the Massachusetts School Safety Data Grant Program within the Office of Public Safety and Security.
  • Grants are awarded to municipal, county, regional, or state law enforcement agencies for the purpose of developing school mapping data for one or more schools under the agency’s jurisdiction.
  • Funding is subject to appropriation; the Office administers the program.

Definitions (Section 64)

  • Office: Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.
  • Program: Massachusetts School Safety Data Grant Program.
  • Public safety agencies: Municipal, county, regional, or state agencies responsible for emergency services (law enforcement, fire, EMS).
  • School: Any public or private K-12 institution, including charter, vocational, and certain special education schools.
  • School mapping data: Detailed geographic and structural data of school buildings/grounds (floor plans, aerial imagery, room/area labeling, etc.).
  • Software platforms: Tools used by public safety agencies to access/share emergency data.
  • Verified: Data that has been on-site inspected for accuracy.

Data standards and requirements (Section 64, (c))

The program mandates that school mapping data:
1. Integrate with existing public safety software platforms without requiring extra purchases or fees; updates must maintain compatibility.
2. Integrate with school safety/emergency software without extra costs.
3. Be provided in a printable format.
4. Be oriented true north, include a coordinate grid (x, y) and z-axis elevation data per floor.
5. Undergo on-site verification by the data-producing entity.
6. Include floor plans overlaid on current verified aerial imagery.
7. Include site-specific labeling (rooms, corridors, exterior doors, stairwells, hazards, utility controls, AEDs, trauma kits) and cover school grounds (parking, fields, roads, neighboring properties).
8. Be provided to the school district and appropriate public safety agencies at no cost beyond initial production; data remains accessible permanently.

Access, updates, and regulations (Section 64, (d))

  • The Office will promulgate rules to implement the program and ensure compliance.

Who is affected

  • Public safety agencies (police, fire, EMS) across municipal, county, regional, and state levels.
  • School districts (public and private K-12 institutions, including charter and certain specialized schools).
  • Data producers (the agencies or entities responsible for generating the mapping data) and the software platforms used by public safety and schools.

Timelines and procedural notes

  • Filed: January 15, 2025 (House Docket No. 1970)
  • Referred to Public Safety and Homeland Security: February 27, 2025
  • Senate concurrence noted: February 27, 2025
  • Reported favorably by committee and referred to House Ways and Means: July 30, 2025
  • Hearing date scheduled: May 7, 2025 (05/07/2025), 1:00 PM–5:00 PM

Potential impact

  • Creates a standardized, publicly accessible source of high-precision school mapping data to streamline emergency response.
  • Requires coordination across multiple agencies and software ecosystems, ensuring interoperability without imposing additional software costs on schools or agencies.
  • Commissioning on-site verification enhances data reliability, potentially improving incident response times and safety planning.
  • Establishes a permanent data-sharing framework funded through future appropriations, with ongoing updates to keep data current.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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