public schools; interoperable communications; requirements, the official text

REFERENCE TITLE: public schools; interoperable
communications; requirements

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1315

Introduced by

Senator
Payne

AN
ACT

amending title 15, chapter 1, article 5,
Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-154.03; relating to school
safety requirements.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 15, chapter 1, article 5,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-154.03, to read:

START_STATUTE15-154.03. Schools; interoperable communications systems; affidavits; annual
readiness report

A. Each school district and charter
school in this state shall select or develop technology, a system or a method
to establish and maintain interoperable communications capabilities that
include at least the following:

1. A mechanism that enables
designated school personnel to notify local law enforcement agencies in real
time if an emergency occurs at the school.

2. A mechanism that enables the
school district or charter school to securely transmit the current map of each
school campus and floor plan of each school building to local law enforcement
agencies in a printable format.

3. A mechanism that enables
designated school personnel to communicate with local law enforcement agencies
and law enforcement officers in real time during an emergency at the school.

B. A school district or charter
school that uses a secure, multimedia data communications system that is
deployed pursuant to section 41-1733 is not required to establish a new
interoperable communications system if the existing multimedia data
communications system satisfies the requirements prescribed by subsection A of
this section.

C. On or before July 1, 2027 and July
1 of each year thereafter, each school district and charter school shall submit
to the department, in a form and manner prescribed by the department, an
affidavit attesting that the school district or charter school:

1. Is maintaining the interoperable
communications capabilities required by subsection A of this section.

2. Has transmitted the current maps
and floor plans to local law enforcement agencies through the mechanism
required by subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section.

3. Has tested each mechanism required
by subsection A of this section to ensure that the school district or charter
school is able to communicate with the local law enforcement agency in whose
jurisdiction the school district or charter school is located at least once
during the preceding year.

D. The department shall develop
guidelines and best practices to assist school districts and charter schools in
meeting the requirements prescribed by this section.

E. The department shall compile the
affidavits submitted pursuant to subsection C of this section and shall provide
an annual statewide interoperability readiness report to the governor, the
president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and
shall provide a copy of the report to the secretary of state.