§ 29-1bb — Eligible nonprofit organization security infrastructure competitive grant program.

(a) For the purposes of this section: (1) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection; (2) “Department” means the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection; (3) “Eligible expenses” means expenses incurred by an eligible nonprofit organization for items and training described in subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (c) of this section that are eligible for a grant pursuant to this section; (4) “Eligible nonprofit organization” means an organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to time, and that is at heightened risk, as determined by the commissioner, of being the target of a terrorist attack, hate crime or violent act; (5) “Eligible nonprofit organization building” means a building in the state that is owned by an eligible nonprofit organization; (6) “Eligible nonprofit organization applicant” means an organization that is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to time, and that applies for a grant pursuant to subsection (d) of this section; and (7) “Eligible nonprofit organization applicant building” means a building in the state that is owned by an eligible nonprofit organization applicant. (b) (1) On or before May 1, 2020, the commissioner shall develop eligible nonprofit organization building security infrastructure criteria for eligible nonprofit organization buildings that are the subject of grants awarded pursuant to this section. Such criteria shall conform to industry standards for building security infrastructure and shall address areas including, but not limited to, (A) entryways to eligible nonprofit organization buildings and rooms, such as reinforcement of entryways, ballistic glass, solid core doors, double door access, computer-controlled electronic locks, remote locks on all entrance and exits and buzzer systems, (B) the use of cameras throughout an eligible nonprofit organization building and at all entrances and exits, including the use of closed-circuit television monitoring, (C) penetration resistant vestibules, and (D) other security infrastructure improvements and devices as they become industry standards. (2) On or before May 1, 2020, the commissioner shall develop a checklist for eligible nonprofit organization applicants to use to assess the safety and security of eligible nonprofit organization applicant buildings, pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of this section, for purposes of grant eligibility pursuant to this section. Such checklist shall include measures to assess eligible nonprofit organization applicant buildings and eligible nonprofit organization applicants' communications systems, building access control and surveillance, utility systems, mechanical systems and emergency power. (c) The department shall administer an eligible nonprofit organization security infrastructure competitive grant program to provide grants to eligible nonprofit organizations for eligible expenses for eligible nonprofit organization buildings incurred on or after July 1, 2019, for: (1) The development or improvement of the security infrastructure of eligible nonprofit organization buildings, based on the results of eligible nonprofit organization buildings security assessments conducted pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of this section, including, but not limited to, the installation of surveillance cameras, penetration resistant vestibules, ballistic glass, solid core doors, double door access, computer-controlled electronic locks, entry door buzzer systems, scan card systems, panic alarms, real time interoperable communications and multimedia sharing infrastructure or other systems; and (2) (A) the training of eligible nonprofit organization personnel in the operation and maintenance of the security infrastructure of eligible nonprofit organization buildings, and (B) the purchase of portable entrance security devices, including, but not limited to, metal detector wands and screening machines and related training. (d) On and after May 1, 2020, any eligible nonprofit organization applicant that owns an eligible nonprofit organization applicant building may apply, in such manner as the commissioner prescribes, to the department for a grant for eligible expenses for eligible nonprofit organization buildings incurred on or after July 1, 2019, for the purposes described in subsection (c) of this section. The commissioner shall require all eligible nonprofit organization applicants to submit information to the department to demonstrate that such eligible nonprofit organization applicant is at a heightened risk of being the target of a terrorist attack, hate crime or violent act. The commissioner shall evaluate such information based on neutral criteria applied equally to all eligible nonprofit organization applicants. The commissioner shall determine which expenses are eligible under the program and whether to approve or deny an application in accordance with the eligible nonprofit organization building security infrastructure criteria developed pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section and upon a determination that the eligible nonprofit organization applicant is at a heightened risk of being the target of a terrorist attack, hate crime or violent act. (e) (1) An eligible nonprofit organization may receive a grant of not more than fifty thousand dollars pursuant to this section, provided fifty per cent of such grant shall be made available to such eligible nonprofit organization when such eligible nonprofit organization presents to the commissioner a contract in which such eligible nonprofit organization will incur eligible expenses for security infrastructure, and fifty per cent of such grant shall be made available to such eligible nonprofit organization when such eligible nonprofit organization demonstrates to the commissioner that the eligible nonprofit organization has incurred all of the eligible expenses pursuant to such contract. Nothing in this section shall prohibit an eligible nonprofit organization from applying for a federal grant in addition to a grant pursuant to this section, provided such organization shall not receive both a federal grant and a grant pursuant to this section for the same project. (2) To be eligible for a grant pursuant to this section, an eligible nonprofit organization applicant shall provide for a uniform assessment of its eligible nonprofit organization applicant buildings, including any security infrastructure, using the checklist developed by the commissioner pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section. The assessment may be conducted under the supervision of the local law enforcement agency.

Legislative History

(P.A. 20-1, S. 83; P.A. 21-111, S. 90; P.A. 24-151, S. 28.) History: P.A. 20-1 effective March 12, 2020; P.A. 21-111 amended Subsec. (d) by deleting existing Subdiv. (1) designator and “and before July 31, 2020,” therein, and deleting former Subdiv. (2) re if aggregate dollar amount for grants is less than 5,000,000, effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 24-151 amended Subsec. (e)(1) to add provision re applying for federal grant and grant pursuant to this section and prohibition on receipt of both grants for same project, effective July 1, 2024.