FIREARM DETECTION SOFTWARE FUND

SB 136 creates a $5 million nonreverting fund to provide grants for firearm detection software at New Mexico public schools. The bill directly affects all public school districts and charter schools, allowing them to apply for funding to purchase software meeting six specific requirements: detecting unholstered firearms, integrating with existing security systems, meeting federal anti-terrorism standards, having U.S.-developed proprietary technology, and being evidence-based or previously used by schools or government entities. The fund is administered by the Public Education Department, with unspent money carrying forward to future years. This bill makes a concrete policy change by establishing dedicated state funding for schools to adopt specific security technology.