Bill > HF4571

This bill, also known as "Alyssa's Law," mandates that all schools, including independent or special school districts, charter schools, and defined nonpublic schools, must implement a wearable panic alert system in every school facility by the 2026-2027 school year. This system must be able to send 911 calls and mobile alerts to local public safety answering points, which are the primary dispatch centers for emergency services, and trigger a campus-wide lockdown notification. Each staff member in a school facility will be provided with a wearable device for immediate contact with emergency responders. Schools are also required to train all personnel on the proper use of these devices before the start of each school year. Furthermore, schools must ensure that local law enforcement agencies have access to security information, such as camera feeds, maps, and access control data, as permitted by law, and establish protocols for this access, while schools will retain ownership of this information. The bill also appropriates $2027 from the general fund to the Department of Education to reimburse schools for the costs associated with implementing these panic alert systems, with these funds available until June 30, 2028.