(1) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) "Disbursement program" means the school security disbursement program created in subsection (2) of this section.
(b) "Local education provider" means a school district, a charter school that is authorized pursuant to part 1 of article 30.5 of title 22, an institute charter school that is authorized pursuant to part 5 of article 30.5 of title 22, or a board of cooperative services as defined in section 22-5-103.
(2a) There is created in the department the school security disbursement program to provide disbursements to eligible entities to use for the purposes described in subsection (3) of this section to improve security within public schools.
(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.
(3) An eligible entity that receives a disbursement from the disbursement program may use the disbursed money only for the following purposes:
(a) capital construction that improves the security of a public school facility or public school vehicle, including but not limited to any structure or installed hardware, device, or equipment that protects a public school facility or public school vehicle and the students, educators, and other individuals who attend, work in, or visit a public school facility or are transported in a public school vehicle from threats of physical harm including but not limited to any structure or installed hardware, device, or equipment that:
(i) prevents the entry of unauthorized individuals into a public school facility or a protected space within a public school facility or onto a public school vehicle; or
(ii) can be used to expedite communication when a threat is present;
(b) training in student threat assessment for all school building staff who have contact with students, which must include best practices for conducting threat assessments, such as instruction on how to prevent bias when conducting a threat assessment;
(c) developing best practices and protocols related to school safety incident response