Senate committee makes campus safety mapping mandatory despite concerns about unfunded mandate

The Senate Finance Committee adopted a strike-and-insert amendment to House Bill 45 92 that changes the creation of campus safety mapping data from permissive to mandatory for state institutions of higher education.

Presenter explained that the bill requires each state institution to create an accurate, easily understood campus safety map and provide the data to local first-response agencies, and the maps are not subject to FOIA. When the strike-and-insert amendment was read, Counsel confirmed the change: "That is correct, Senator," that the language would make the requirement mandatory.

Several senators opposed making the requirement mandatory without funding. Senator Mason said he had concerns about imposing an unfunded mandate and noted that when the measure came through the House it used permissive language. "I'm never a fan of unfunded mandates," Mason said, adding that the committee was mandating an action without providing money to do it. The chair responded that he had spoken with Chancellor Tucker and believed institutions could afford the requirement because a prior 2% cut had been restored in the funding formula.

The committee adopted the amendment and then voted to report the committee substitute as amended to the full Senate. The change makes the creation of campus safety mapping a statutory requirement for institutions; the absence of designated funding means institutions may need to reallocate local resources to comply unless the Legislature provides appropriations later.