Modify School Security Grant Program

Second Regular Session Seventy-fifth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO REENGROSSED This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted in the House of Introduction HOUSE BILL 26-1321 LLS NO. 26-0066.01 Alison Killen x4350 HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Stewart R. and Hamrick, Duran, Clifford, Goldstein, Phillips, Stewart K., Story SENATE SPONSORSHIP Cutter, House Committees Senate Committees Education A BILL FOR AN ACT MODIFICATION OF THE SCHOOL SECURITY DISBURSEMENT PROGRAM.

The bill modifies the definition for an "eligible nonprofit organization" that may receive a disbursement from the school security disbursement program. The modified definition requires that the nonprofit be based in Colorado and provide school safety incident response, violence prevention, and behavioral health training and expertise at no cost to local education providers, law enforcement agencies, and other Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.

Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law. Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law.

April 21, 2026 (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.) HOUSE Bill Summary 3rd Reading Unamended C ONCERNING HOUSE Amended 2nd Reading April 16, 2026 first responders from Colorado. The bill requires the department of public safety to disburse all grant money awarded pursuant to the disbursement program for use in the upcoming school year no later than August 1 of that same calendar year.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1.

In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-33.5-1810, amend (1)(c) introductory portion, (1)(c)(I), (1)(c)(III), (1)(c)(IV), (2)(b), and (5) as follows:

24-33.5-1810. School security disbursement program - created - rules - definitions - repeal.

(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(c) "Eligible nonprofit organization" means a COLORADO-BASED nonprofit organization that is exempt from taxation under section 501 (c)(3) of the federal "Internal Revenue Code of 1986", as amended, that applies to work with specific local education providers or first responders, and that:

(I) Has experience providing training for school safety incident response, VIOLENCE PREVENTION, OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH; (III) Has experience working with school districts, school personnel, and students on issues related to school safety incident response, and VIOLENCE PREVENTION, OR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH; AND

(IV) Identifies in its application local education providers, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, or OTHER LOCAL first responders that will participate in school safety incident response training or programs.

(2) (b) Subject to available appropriations, the department shall disburse money to applicants as provided in subsection (5) of this section from money credited to the school security disbursement cash fund, created in section 24-33.5-1811. It is the intent of the general assembly that the department distribute the money credited to the school security disbursement cash fund as quickly as practicable based on the receipt of qualifying applications. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL DISBURSE ALL GRANT MONEY AWARDED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION FOR USE IN THE UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR NO LATER THAN AUGUST 1 OF THAT CALENDAR YEAR.

The department shall review each application received pursuant to subsection (4) of this section. Subject to available appropriations, the department shall disburse money to the applicant if the department determines that the application meets the requirements specified in subsection (4) of this section and the purpose or purposes for which the applicant intends to use the disbursed money are likely to improve security in public school facilities or vehicles and are not likely to exacerbate identified student disciplinary disparities. The department shall give priority to applicants that commit to providing financial resources to match the amount of the disbursement OR COMMIT TO PROVIDING THEIR TRAINING TO LOCAL EDUCATION PROVIDERS, LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, AND OTHER LOCAL FIRST RESPONDERS AT NO CHARGE. The department shall determine the disbursement amount taking into account the amount identified in the application.

SECTION 2. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August 12, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13, 2026); except that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.