Alabama school visitor management law

What does the Alabama law require?

An adult sex offender convicted of a sex offense involving a minor may not enter K-12 school property while school is in session, or attend a K-12 school activity, unless he or she meets the listed conditions. The offender must notify the principal or the principal's designee beforehand. The offender must report to the principal or designee immediately on arrival. The school's procedures for this are limited to rules that let the principal or designee discreetly monitor the offender. Knowingly breaking the school-entry rule is a Class C felony, a felony-level crime.

Who is covered?

The School Security Act defines a school as any public K-12 school. Public charter schools are subject to the same health and safety requirements as other public schools, except where the charter chapter says otherwise.

What about entrances and door locks?

School doors and exits may be locked from the outside, but must let people inside get out immediately during school hours and at all school functions. Each local board must give law enforcement and fire department personnel access to each of its schools so they can prepare for emergencies. The State Board of Education must have each local board's school facilities inspected by a school security inspector at least once every five years. The inspection rubric must include standards for locks on exterior and interior doors. Each inspected facility may be rated green, yellow or red. Each district safety coordinator must work with the local board to adopt policies on sharing camera data and remote access control with law enforcement.

How can schools pay for it?

The law creates the School Security and Fire Safety Fund in the State Treasury. The State Board may award grants from it to local boards to help them meet the school security criteria. The State Board must give priority to the schools with the most need, as shown by their security rubric rating.