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Bill would fund school campus mapping for first responders; sponsors say maps speed emergency response
Summary
AB412 would authorize development of school campus maps and a grant program to provide standardized, first-responder–ready maps and recommend lockbox installation; proponents said accurate, verified maps help responders locate doors, rooms and utilities during crises.
CARSON CITY — Assembly Bill 412 would create a grant program to fund standardized school campus maps and encourage exterior master key lockboxes to help first responders navigate school campuses during emergencies.
Assemblymember Joe Dalia, sponsor, said the maps would give first responders “every possible advantage to protect our kids” by providing verified layout information at the moment of a response. Chris Anderson of Salah Consulting explained the bill would establish the School Safety Data Grant Program within Nevada’s Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, allow law-enforcement agencies to apply for grants on behalf of schools, and require mapping standards that meet industry norms. Anderson said the bill makes clear that mapping data belongs to the schools and includes confidentiality protections aligned with school emergency operations plans.
Austin Sprague of Critical Response Group described technical problems with relying on building blueprints: many architectural plans are oriented to project north rather than to true north, do not reflect renovations and lack site‑specific labeling that responders need (for example, named doors, parking lots or HVAC shutoffs). Sprague said CRG has mapped thousands of K–12 schools nationwide and that verified, responder-ready maps should be distributed to public‑safety agencies in file formats compatible with their existing software at no charge.
The bill amendment in committee would cap grant contributions at $2.5 million — Anderson said that level would cover every public school in the state, including charters — and revert unspent funds after two years; it also encourages (but does not require) lockboxes placed at strategic exterior locations to hold keys or critical information for first responders.
Supporters included the Nevada Association of School Boards, Nevada Association of School Superintendents, county law enforcement representatives and charter-school coalitions; supporters said the measure is permissive, creates a grant source and would standardize maps so public safety can rely on them during multi‑jurisdictional incidents. No opponents testified.
Why it matters: verified, standardized maps and access controls can reduce confusion and time lost during an emergency response at a school campus, supporters said.
