20 U.S.C. § 1161l — Student safety and campus emergency management

(a) Grants authorized. (1) From the money appropriated under subsection (f), the Secretary may competitively award grants to institutions of higher education or consortia so they can pay the Federal share of the cost of the activities in subsection (c). (2) When appropriate, the Secretary must award grants in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security. (3) Each grant lasts two years. (4) An institution or consortium may receive only one grant under this section. (b) Federal share; non-Federal share. (1) The Federal share of the activities in subsection (c) is 50 percent. (2) A recipient must provide the remaining share. State and local resources dedicated to emergency preparedness and response may provide it. (c) Authorized activities. A recipient may use grant money for one or more of these activities: (1) Developing and putting in place a state-of-the-art emergency communications system for each campus, so students can be contacted by cellular phone, text message, or other state-of-the-art methods when a significant emergency or dangerous situation occurs. In coordination with appropriate State and local emergency-management authorities, the recipient must also (A) develop procedures telling students, employees, and others on campus what to do during such an event; and (B) develop procedures for promptly and reasonably informing them during such an event, including use of the emergency communications system. (2) Supporting safety improvements, including (A) security assessments; (B) security training for personnel and students; (C) when appropriate, coordinating campus preparedness and response with local law enforcement, local emergency-management authorities, and other agencies to improve joint emergency responses; (D) creating a hotline through which a student or staff member may report another student or staff member whom the reporter believes may be a danger to that person or others; and (E) buying and installing access-control, video-surveillance, intrusion-detection, and perimeter-security technologies and systems. (3) Coordinating with appropriate local entities to provide mental-health services for students and staff, including crisis response and intervention for people affected by a campus or community emergency. (d) Application. An institution or consortium seeking a grant must apply to the Secretary at the time, in the way, and with the information the Secretary requires. (e) Technical assistance. The Secretary must coordinate technical assistance from State and local emergency-management agencies, the Department of Homeland Security, and other appropriate agencies for institutions or consortia requesting help to develop and carry out activities supported under this section. (f) Authorization of appropriations. Congress may appropriate whatever sums are necessary for fiscal year 2009 and each of the next five fiscal years to carry out this part.