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LB 685

Require schools to install a secure master key box as prescribed, provide powers and duties to the state school security director, change provisions relating to a grant program for security-related infrastructure projects and the School Safety and Security Fund, and provide for a transfer from the Cash Reserve Fund

109th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Dan Lonowski

Requires exterior secure master key boxes at every approved school, funds security-grant programs, expands the state security director’s duties, and creates a School Safety Fund.

Title printed. Carryover bill
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · LB 685

Summary of LB 685 (Nebraska, 109th Legislature, First Session)

Purpose and Intent

LB 685 aims to enhance K–12 school safety in Nebraska. The core requirements mandate exterior secure master key boxes at all approved or accredited public, private, denominational, and parochial schools to enable exterior access for law enforcement during emergencies. The bill also strengthens the state’s school security framework by expanding grant programs for security-related infrastructure, clarifying the duties of the state school security director, and creating a transfer from the Cash Reserve Fund to support key box installation.

Key Provisions

1) Secure Master Key Boxes at Schools

  • Requires every approved or accredited school to install one exterior secure master key box at each school building.
  • The location of each box must be determined in collaboration with local law enforcement.
  • The boxes must meet specified security standards and align with school policy.
  • Applies to public, private, denominational, and parochial schools.

2) State School Security Director—Powers and Duties

  • Amends Section 79-2,144 to codify the duties of the state school security director, including:
    • Collecting safety and security plans and related information from schools.
    • Recommending minimum security standards (existing standards establishment referenced).
    • Conducting assessments of each public school building’s security (timeline provisions may reflect past deadlines).
    • Overseeing compliance with the secure master key box mandate.
    • Identifying deficiencies and advising school boards on remedies.
    • Supporting security awareness, training programs, mental health initiatives, and tornado preparedness.
    • Responding to inquiries from private, denominational, and parochial schools.
    • Advising on cyberbullying and digital citizenship materials.
    • Carrying out duties under the School Safety and Security Reporting System Act.

3) Grant Program for Security-Related Infrastructure

  • Amends Section 79-3108 to expand the competitive grant program administered by the Department of Education.
    • Qualifying projects may include exterior secure master key boxes, surveillance equipment, door-locking systems, and other security-related infrastructure.
    • Grants are available to public school districts and educational service units, and to eligible nonpublic schools under an established process.
    • Grants must be distributed as evenly as possible across eligible school buildings within a district.
    • Annual reporting to the Legislature on grants, including recipients, uses, and other metrics, with protections for identifying individual schools.
    • Rules and regulations may be promulgated to implement the section.
    • Legislative intent to appropriate $10 million from the School Safety and Security Fund to administer the grant program.

4) School Safety and Security Fund

  • Creates and funds a School Safety and Security Fund for grant-related expenditures.
  • Section 79-3109 outlines fund administration, investment, and investment earnings handling, with earnings credited to the General Fund beginning Oct. 1, 2024.
  • Specifies transfer mechanics and how money is to be used for security-related infrastructure grants.

5) Transfer from Cash Reserve Fund

  • Transfers $1 million from the Cash Reserve Fund to a newly created subaccount within the School Safety and Security Fund to fund exterior secure master key box grants.

Affected Parties

  • School boards and governing bodies of public, private, denominational, and parochial schools (installation of key boxes; compliance with standards).
  • Local law enforcement (collaborating on key box location and emergency access).
  • Nebraska Department of Education (administers grants and fund, oversees program rules).
  • School districts and educational service units (eligible for grants; reporting requirements).
  • Nonpublic schools (possible eligibility through the grant program).
  • Statewide stakeholders focused on school security, safety training, and mental health initiatives.

Timeline and Process

  • Introduced: January 22, 2025.
  • Committee: Education.
  • Hearing: February 18, 2025.
  • Provisions reference ongoing or future rulemaking by the Department of Education (as needed to implement grant and security standards).
  • Fiscal mechanics include a $1 million transfer from the Cash Reserve Fund and an intent to appropriate $10 million for the grant program, subject to future appropriations.

Notes

  • The bill harmonizes several statutes (79-2,144; 79-3108; 79-3109; 84-612) and repeals/updates original sections as part of the modernization of school security policy.
  • Some sections reference prior deadlines (e.g., security standards, assessments) tied to earlier statutory timelines; LB 685 appears to update or reframe those provisions.

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

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