SCH SAFETY DRILL-MAPPING DATA

104th Regular Session Introduced by Meg Loughran Cappel

The bill requires crisis response maps to be shared with first responders, meet technical standards, remain FOIA-exempt, and be funded via appropriations.

Referred to Assignments

Summary / Purpose

SB 1946 amends Section 50 of the School Safety Drill Act to expand how the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) makes “crisis response mapping data” available to schools and related educational entities, and to require entities that receive such mapping data to provide copies to appropriate first responders for use during emergencies. The bill also sets minimum technical/content standards for the maps, makes the maps confidential (FOIA-exempt), and ties distribution to available appropriations.

Key provisions

Adds a requirement that any entity receiving crisis response mapping data must provide copies to appropriate local, county, State, and federal first responders for emergency response use.

Directs ISBE (or its designee), subject to appropriations, to make crisis response mapping data available to eligible entities in the order that entities apply and until appropriated funds are exhausted.

Establishes a grant mechanism (subject to appropriation) to cover costs of obtaining mapping data; applications must cover all schools within the applying entity’s jurisdiction (e.g., district and its charter schools).

Specifies minimum content and technical requirements for mapping data, including:

Compatibility with security software platforms used by the school without requiring third‑party integration;
Printable formats for on‑site walk‑throughs;
True‑north orientation;
Overlay on current aerial imagery or building plans;
Site‑specific labeling (rooms, hallways, external doors/stairwells) and locations of hazards, critical utilities, AEDs, trauma kits, key boxes;
Overlay with gridded X/Y coordinates.

Permits annual review/updates of maps subject to appropriation.

Declares crisis response mapping data confidential and exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.

Authorizes ISBE to adopt implementing rules.

Eligible entities (examples from the bill)

Public school districts, charter schools, special education cooperatives/districts, education for employment systems, State‑approved laboratory schools, regional intermediate service centers, early childhood/preschool programs supported by the Early Childhood Block Grant, Illinois Math & Science Academy, Illinois School for the Deaf, Illinois School for the Visually Impaired, Philip J. Rock Center and School, juvenile education programs, and other public school entities designated by ISBE.

Implementation, funding & timeline

Distribution and grants are conditional on legislative appropriations; ISBE may use appropriations to cover administrative costs.

Data sharing to first responders required when entities receive mapping data.

Crisis response mapping data remains FOIA‑exempt.

Legislative status: passed both chambers, signed by the Governor 6/20/2025; effective 9/1/2025.

Companion bill: HB 4155.

Who is affected / Potential impacts

Directly affects public K–12 school entities and ISBE; first responders will gain access to standardized digital maps to inform emergency response.

Requires schools to share maps with first responders and to meet technical/specification standards (potentially requiring software/hardware or training).

Coverage depends on available appropriations; lack of funding could limit the program’s reach.

Confidentiality provision aims to balance emergency utility with security/privacy concerns, but secure handling and distribution will be critical.

Bill