In 2019, Legislature enacted AB 1548 establishing the Nonprofit Security Grant Program. AB 1548 authorized the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to provide grants to nonprofit organizations that are at a high risk for violent attacks and hate crimes due to ideology, beliefs, or mission to improve their physical security. The nonprofit organizations can use the grant funds for security guards, reinforced doors and gates, high-intensity lighting and alarms, and any other security enhancement consistent with the purpose of the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program. In 2022, Legislature enacted AB 1548 expanding the program by adding an additional approved use of the grant funds and increasing the award limit to $500,000 per recipient.
Assembly Bill 1185 (AB 1185) further expands the program authorizing the grant program to provide grants to an applicant that provides support to the above-described at-risk nonprofit organizations for vulnerability assessments, security trainings, mass notification alert systems, monitoring and response systems, and lifesaving emergency equipment.
The Office of Emergency Services is required to provide ongoing technical assistance for nonprofit organizations that require a vulnerability assessment for a state application to the California State Nonprofit Security Grant Program or a threat assessment for a federal application to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program of the United States Department of Homeland Security. AB 1185 requires that the technical assistance from Office of Emergency Services include a resource page with a toll-free telephone number on the Office of Emergency Services’ website and continuous outreach to stakeholders on available resources for vulnerability assessments outside the established grant cycle.
(AB 1185 amends Section 8588.9 of the Government Code.)
Note: Schools that accept state funds may be required to comply with certain state and/or federal laws with which they otherwise would not be required to comply.