florida state capitol building

Florida Lawmaker Introduces “Alyssa’s Law” To Require Panic Alarms in Public Schools

The bill, a version of which was already signed into law in New Jersey, would require Florida public schools to install silent panic alarms in each building.

  • By Haley Samsel
  • August 22, 2019

Following one of the deadliest school shootings in American history in Parkland, Florida, state lawmakers have taken action to improve campus safety, including measures mandating monthly active shooter drills and armed security guards at every school in the state. Now, a state legislator is proposing a bill that would mandate panic alarms in public schools starting next year.

Florida state Rep. Michael Gottlieb, a Democrat from Broward County, has introduced “Alyssa’s Law,” named after Alyssa Alhadeff, a 14-year-old student killed in the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The school is located within the county.

The bill would require each school building to have at least one panic alarm for use in a school security emergency, including non-fire evacuations, lockdowns, or active shooter situations. In addition, the silent alarm must have a direct connection to local law enforcement that would send an immediate signal or message to first responders once activated.

“This is a necessary response to a growing evil in today’s society and a step in the right direction, something that I believe should gain bipartisan support,” Gottlieb said in a statement published by Florida Politics.

A companion bill was introduced last year by state Sen. Lauren Book but did not make it through committee. In February, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed a version of “Alyssa’s Law” requiring silent panic alarms in the state’s schools.

If Gottlieb’s bill is passed, Florida schools would be required to have the alarms by July 1, 2020.

“Who wouldn’t want to give these schools a better chance if something like this were to happen again?” Gottlieb said. “We must continue this congruent effort until we find some preventative solutions to our mass shooting epidemic.”

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Gun Violence Report Finds Retail Spaces, K-12 Schools Most Targeted

    ZeroEyes, the creators of the only AI-based gun detection video analytics platform that holds the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act Designation, today announced the release of its annual Gun Violence Report, offering a deep dive into the landscape of gun-related incidents across the United States. This analysis extends beyond mass fatality events, providing a more nuanced understanding of when, where, and why shootings occur. Read Now

  • Cybersecurity is An Overlooked Threat on K-12 Campuses

    Improving physical security on K-12 campuses is always at the top of mind for decision makers like principals, superintendents, and many others with a focus on surveillance cameras, access control, and emergency drills. But cybersecurity something that needs as much scrutiny as in today’s digital landscape. Read Now

    • Communication

  • Four Fathers Stop School Shooter at Weekend Band Competition in Texas

    An 83-year-old man allegedly injured one during a school shooting at a band competition in a Houston suburb. According to a Facebook post by the Pasadena Police Department, the shooting happened after 6 p.m. at Pasadena Memorial High School on Saturday. Read Now

  • Tennessee School Shooter Partially Livestreamed Attack that Killed One

    The school shooter who killed one during an attack in Nashville, Tenn. partially livestreamed the attack. Read Now

Most   Popular