Kolker’s Bipartisan Bill to Support School Safety Passes Committee

SB23-043 would extend the successful School Access for Emergency Response (SAFER) program by five additional years

DENVER, CO – Senator Chris Kolker’s, D-Centennial, bipartisan bill to support school safety through improved emergency response communications received unanimous support from the Senate Education Committee today.

Cosponsored by Senator Kevin Van Winkle, R-Highlands Ranch, SB23-043 would extend the School Access for Emergency Response (SAFER) program until July 1, 2029. SAFER grants are used to purchase, upgrade, and maintain communications hardware and software to allow for seamless communications between schools and first responders during emergency situations. 

Currently, SAFER is set to expire on July 1, 2024.

“Students and teachers deserve to feel safe at school, which is why we must make sure there are efficient systems in place to allow for rapid response if and when schools need assistance from first responders,” Kolker said. “Extending the SAFER grant program means continued support for strong relationships between schools and emergency responders, and will help ensure everyone in our schools remains as safe as possible.”

In 2022, Akron R-1, Frenchman RE-3, Haxtun Re-2J, Wray RD-2 and Yuma-1 were among school districts across the state to receive SAFER grant funding that connected schools’ local radios with emergency responder safety teams in their communities.

SB23-043 now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. You can follow the bill’s progress here.