(a) Establishment.--A county, or multicounties acting jointly, may establish a safe schools' collaborative to distribute, promote and develop best practices applicable to emergency response involving school safety and security through an emergency preparedness planning approach. The collaborative shall provide assistance to school entities, law enforcement and emergency responders and shall meet at least quarterly to develop safe and secure schools. The collaborative shall identify and promote strategies, practices that align with those identified by the committee and programs that support safe schools for all students and staff and recommend implementation as part of a countywide or multicounty safe schools' plan.

(b) Technical assistance.--The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency in collaboration with the Pennsylvania State Police and the Office of Homeland Security shall provide technical assistance to a county or several counties to establish a safe schools' collaborative under subsection (a) to provide school districts, emergency responders and all relevant school safety partners with quality information, resources, consultation and training services.

(c) Reports.--The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency in collaboration with the Pennsylvania State Police and the Office of Homeland Security shall report to the committee annually beginning September 1, 2024, and September 1 of each year thereafter, the number of counties that have requested technical assistance under subsection (b).

(d) Confidentiality of reports.--Reports to the committee under this section shall remain confidential and shall not be subject to inspection and duplication under the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L. 6, No. 3),¹ known as the Right-to-Know Law.

(e) Confidentiality of meetings.--Meetings of a county safe schools' collaborative are not subject to the requirements of 65 Pa.C.S. Ch. 7 (relating to open meetings).