Kansas Safe and Secure Firearm Detection Grant Program

The Kansas Safe and Secure Firearm Detection Grant Program is administered by the Office of the Kansas Attorney General and was established through a budget provision enacted under Senate Bill 125. The program is supported by a total appropriation of $10 million and aims to enhance safety in Kansas public schools by funding the installation of firearm detection and screening technologies. This initiative reflects the state's commitment to proactive safety measures in educational environments, especially amid increasing national concerns about school security. The program offers financial support to Kansas public schools for the deployment of firearm detection systems, specifically software such as ZeroEyes. This software integrates with camera infrastructure to identify firearms in real time, supporting early intervention and emergency response. The grant funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis and is distributed in accordance with certain geographic and fiscal limits. No single school district may receive more than $500,000 in total, and $2.5 million of the total fund is specifically allocated to each of the state’s four congressional districts to ensure regional equity. Grant recipients must coordinate with a state-selected vendor to generate and submit an invoice to the Office of the Attorney General for payment. The award letter issued to each grantee will include a binding deadline for invoice submission. Failure to meet this deadline results in the automatic forfeiture of the grant, and the funds are then reallocated to other eligible schools within the same congressional district. This mechanism ensures prompt utilization of available funding and incentivizes efficient project execution. To apply, authorized representatives of public school districts must complete and submit a formal application. Required application details include district and school contact information, enrollment figures, proposed camera quantities using the ZeroEyes software, school hours, and the relevant congressional district. The applicant must also certify the accuracy of the information provided, affirm compliance with program requirements, and confirm infrastructure compatibility with the detection software. Additionally, applicants must acknowledge that grant-related records may be subject to public disclosure under the Kansas Open Records Act. A digital signature is required as part of the certification process. The Office of the Attorney General has not specified a fixed deadline in the source documentation, suggesting a rolling application structure that remains open until funds are exhausted. Consequently, applicants are encouraged to act quickly to secure funding before the pool is depleted. Overall, the Kansas Safe and Secure Firearm Detection Grant Program is a strategically structured initiative designed to equip Kansas public schools with cutting-edge tools for enhancing student and staff safety. Its regional funding allocation, technical compatibility requirements, and strict invoicing timelines reflect a focused and disciplined approach to distributing public safety funds across the state's educational institutions.