SB 488 — SCHOOLS: Creates the School Safety Drone Response Pilot Program to supplement school crisis management and response plans. (8/1/26) (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

SLS 26RS-1471 ENGROSSED Regular Session ENROLLED SENATE BILL NO.

488 BY SENATOR EDMONDS SCHOOLS.CreatestheSchoolSafetyDroneResponsePilotProgramtosupplementschoolAND crisisREPRESENTATIVES managementAMEDEE, andBROUSSARD, responseCARLSON, plans.CARVER, TERRY LANDRY, SCHLEGEL AND ST.

(8/1/26)BLANC AN ACT To enact R.S.

to providefortheSchoolSafetyDroneResponsePilot Program;to establisheligibility to participateinparticipateinthepilot thepilot program;to provideforadministration oftheprogram;and to provide for related matters.

School Safety Drone Response Pilot Program A.(1) The state Department of Education may establish a School Safety Drone Response Pilot Program to evaluate the use of drone technology as a supplementtoexistingschoolsafetyandlawenforcementresponseprotocolsat each city, parish, and other local public schools.school.

(2) The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall establish criteria for participation by each city, parish, and other local public schools.school.

PageB.Theprogramshallbeconductedaspartofthecrisismanagementand 1response ofplan 3in Coding:accordance with the provisions of R.S.

Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;

words in boldface type and underscored are additions.

SLS 26RS-1471 ENGROSSED SB NO.

488 B.Theprogramshallbeconductedaspartofthecrisismanagementand response plan in accordance with the provisions of R.S.

Each city, parish, and other local public schoolsschool shall be eligible to participateinthepilotprogram.Thedepartmentshallselectatleastonebutno more than four schools to participate in the pilot program, based upon a first come, first serve basis.

The vendorPage shall1 enterof into2 aCoding: confidentiality agreement with the department, the school, and the Louisiana Center for Safe Schools to provide strict confidentiality with respect to the school's mapping data.

E.Thedepartmentmayacceptgrantsorprivatefundingtoestablishand operate the pilot program.

F.BeginningDecember31,2027,thedepartmentshallsubmitanannual reporttotheSenateCommitteeonEducationandtheHouseofRepresentatives Committee on Education as to the findings and effectiveness of the pilot program.

The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the legislative instrument, were prepared bySenate Legislative Services.

The keyword, summary, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.

[R.S.

1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] DIGEST SB 488 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Edmonds Present law (R.S.

17:416.16 and 416.16.1) provides for school crisis management and response plans for public schools and authorizes the collection and protection of school mapping data, including provisions for confidentiality and limited sharing of such data.

ProposedlawauthorizestheDept.ofEducationtoestablishaSchoolSafetyDroneResponse Pilot Program to evaluate the use of drone technology as a supplement to existing school safetyandlawenforcementresponseprotocolsatpublicschools.Proposedlawalsorequires the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to establish criteria for schoolparticipationandauthorizesthedepartmentto selectavendorto operatetheprogram and provide drone technology.

Proposed law provides that the program shall be conducted as part of existing school crisis management and response plans.

Proposed law authorizes any public school to apply, but Page 2 of 3 Coding:

SLS 26RS-1471 ENGROSSED SB NO.

488 limitsENROLLED participationvendor toshall atenter leastinto onea confidentiality agreement with the department, the school, and nothe moreLouisiana thanCenter fourfor schoolsSafe selectedSchools onto aprovide first-come,strict first-serveconfidentiality basis.with respect to the school's mapping data.

ProposedE.Thedepartmentmayacceptgrantsorprivatefundingtoestablishand lawoperate requires participating schools to provide school mapping data to the selectedpilot vendor,program. subject to existing confidentiality laws, and requires the vendor to enter into confidentiality agreements with the department, the school, and the La.

CenterF. for Safe Schools.

ProposedlawauthorizesthedepartmenttoacceptgrantsorprivatefundingtoimplementtheThe program.vendor that is selected to participate in the School Safety Drone Response Pilot Program shall coordinate with the state Department of Education,LouisianaStatePolice,andtheLouisianaSheriffs'Associationwith respect to the drone operational training procedures related to responding to schoolsafetyincidents.

ProposedThecoordinationshallbeusedtoenhancedeconfliction and situational awareness and ensure that compliance with all applicable law requiresenforcement thetraining department,procedures beginningare Dec.fulfilled in a unified emergency response effort among state and local law enforcement officials and other first responders.

31,G.BeginningDecember31,2027,thedepartmentshallsubmitanannual 2027,report to submitthe anSenate annualCommittee reporton toEducation and the SenateHouse andCommittee Houseon educationEducation committeesas regardingto the program's findings and effectiveness.effectiveness of the pilot program.

EffectivePRESIDENT AugustOF 1,THE 2026.SENATE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA APPROVED:

(AddsPage R.S.2 of 2 Coding:

17:416.16.2) Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Education to the original bill 1.

Make technical amendment.

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