1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Preparing Leaders to Assess Needs for School Safety Act of 2023 or the PLAN for School Safety Act of 2023 . 2. School safety development center program (a) In general Subtitle A of title XXII of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 651 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 2220F. School Safety Development Center Program (a) In general The Director shall make awards, including grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements, to eligible entities to establish, improve, or maintain State-wide or intrastate regional School Safety Development Centers for the purposes of providing customized consulting services to schools to develop, improve, or implement the school’s individualized school safety plan. (b) Awards (1) Application To seek an award under this section, an eligible entity shall submit an application to the Director at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director may require. At minimum, any such application shall include evidence of the applicant’s expertise in comprehensive school safety and school climate, including evidence-based violence prevention for students and educators, suicide prevention, student mental health, and school security. (2) Preference In making awards under this section, the Director shall, as appropriate, give preference to eligible entities that have existing relationships with local schools, particularly those in rural, Tribal, or low-resourced communities, as applicable by the proposed geographical area, or minority-serving institutions described in sections 371(a) and 326(e)(1) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1067q(a) and 1063b(e)(1)). (3) Use of funds Activities eligible for funding through an award under this section include the following: (A) Developing communications materials for and disseminating to schools, educators, parents, legal guardians, and youth, and increasing State-wide or intrastate regional public awareness of evidence-based research