Committee approves school construction oversight rule; debates AED spacing and universal lock boxes

The finance committee voted on June 25 to forward amendments to the school construction oversight, inspections, training and reporting rule (R277‑471) and its incorporated construction manual to the full board, after changing AED placement language and debating related costs and enforcement.

Staff presented a revised incorporated manual and rule language required by recent legislation (House Bill 40). The incorporated manual adds requirements for universal access key boxes (lockboxes) and for automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in schools. Department and school‑safety staff said the manual requires a primary AED at or near the main office, with additional AEDs placed so that gymnasiums, auditoriums, portable buildings and central gathering locations are within about 500 feet of an AED.

Committee members asked why 500 feet was chosen; presenters said the recommendation combined Department of Public Safety (EMS) guidance and a desire to set a practical minimum given cost constraints. Staff and board members discussed AED cost and maintenance — presenters estimated low‑end AED models in the $2,500–$3,000 range — and highlighted vandalism, theft and pad/battery replacement as ongoing costs and operational concerns. The committee amended the draft language to require one AED “at or near the main office” rather than mandating it inside the office, a change intended to improve accessibility during events when offices may be locked. The motion to change the language passed unanimously.

Members also discussed the new universal access key box requirement. Staff described UL‑tested lockbox standards (UL 1037 series), noting the minimum commonly cited standard requires a 5‑minute resistance to common hand tools at attack‑level 1; supporters of the lockbox requirement said its impetus included difficulties first responders faced at the Uvalde shooting. Department presenters said the lockbox and some other requirements come from HB40, and the department added implementation details in rule and the incorporated manual.

On oversight and monitoring, members raised audit findings that the state has limited capacity to monitor construction compliance. Staff said some monitoring will be performed by the Department of Public Safety (chief Pennington’s office) for certain levels of compliance, and that assigning the rule to oversight category 2 signals the state will not dedicate a full monitoring team (staff described the situation as an unfunded mandate for LEAs). Members and LEA representatives stressed that LEAs face fiscal limits and that AEDs and lockboxes will impose recurring maintenance and replacement costs; HB40 allocated $25,000,000 in one‑time funds, but not specifically earmarked for AEDs, and staff said further funding discussions are ongoing.

The committee approved the incorporated school construction resource manual on first reading and forwarded R277‑471 as amended to the board for final reading. The amendment and motions passed by voice vote; one earlier vote on the incorporated document passed with one member opposed. No additional statewide funding allocations were adopted in committee; department staff will bring the amended documents to the full board for final action.