S2872

An Act concerning the installation of key boxes at public school buildings and supplementing chapter 41 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. (1) Subject to the availability of funds appropriated in the annual appropriations act for the purposes of this section, by June 30th of the 2026-2027 school year, each board of education of a school district and board of trustees of a charter school or renaissance school project shall provide for the installation at each school building of at least one exterior key box that meets or exceeds Underwriters Laboratories Standard 1037, or another nationally recognized industry standard for antitheft alarms and devices, at the time of installation.

(2) A board of education or board of trustees shall, with the approval of the Commissioner of Education pursuant to subsection c. of this section, be exempt from the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection and subsection b. of this section if the board has implemented an alternative plan and procedures to provide emergency access to the school building for emergency responders and to ensure that law enforcement personnel have the ability to access the building onsite in the event of an emergency.

b. Each key box required pursuant to paragraph (1) of subsection a. of this section shall:

(1) be installed at an appropriate location for permitting emergency responders, including law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services personnel, emergency access to the building. The precise location of the key box shall be determined by the board of education or board of trustees in collaboration with emergency responders, including law enforcement and fire personnel. A board of education or board of trustees may provide emergency medical services personnel with access to the key box if the board of education or board of trustees deems it appropriate. Wherever possible, emergency responders shall utilize shared key boxes for a school building in collaboration with the school district, charter school, or renaissance school project; and

(2) contain keys and other access control devices as are necessary to access each building and room located on the entire school grounds.

c. The board of education of a school district and board of trustees of a charter school or renaissance school project may apply to the commissioner for an exemption from the requirements of paragraph (1) of subsection a. of this section and subsection b. of this section. The commissioner may approve the application for exemption if the board of education or board of trustees is able to demonstrate that the alternative plan and procedures implemented are equivalent to or exceed the requirements of paragraph (1) of subsection a. of this section and subsection b. of this section.

d. The costs incurred by the board of education of a school district and the board of trustees of a charter school or renaissance school project for the installation of a new key box or the replacement of an existing key box necessary for compliance with the provisions of paragraph (1) of subsection a. of this section and subsection b. of this section shall be borne by the State. A school district, charter school, or renaissance school project that purchases and installs a key box necessary for compliance with the provisions of paragraph (1) of subsection a. of this section and subsection b. of this section after the effective date of this act may apply to the commissioner for reimbursement for the costs incurred.

2. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill requires, subject to the availability of funds and by June 30th of the 2026-2027 school year, that each board of education of a school district and each board of trustees of a charter school or renaissance school project provide for the installation at each school building of at least one exterior key box. The bill requires the key box to meet or exceed Underwriters Laboratories Standard 1037, or another nationally recognized industry standard for antitheft alarms and devices, at the time of installation. The key box is required to be installed at an appropriate location for permitting emergency responders, including law enforcement and fire personnel, emergency access to the building. The bill permits a board of education or board of trustees to allow emergency medical services personnel access to the key box as deemed appropriate. Pursuant to the bill, emergency responders would utilize shared key boxes for a school building whenever possible. A board of education and board of trustees, in collaboration with emergency responders, is required to determine the precise location of the key box.

The key box is required to contain keys and other access control devices as are necessary to access each building and room located on the entire school grounds.

The bill also permits the board of education of a school district and board of trustees of a charter school or renaissance school project to be exempt from the bill’s requirement to install a key box. The board is required to apply to the Commissioner of Education for an exemption. The commissioner may approve the application for the exemption if the board has implemented certain alternative plans and procedures that meet standards prescribed by the amended bill.

The bill specifies that costs incurred by school districts, charter schools, and renaissance school projects necessary for compliance with the bill would be borne by the State. School districts, charter schools, and renaissance school projects that purchase and install key boxes after the effective date of the bill would be able to apply to the Commissioner of Education for reimbursement.