BILL NUMBER: S6410
SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring panic alarm
systems in schools
 
PURPOSE:
Each public elementary and secondary school building shall be equipped
with at least one panic alarm for use in a school security emergency
including, but not limited to, a non-fire evacuation, lockdown, or
active shooter situation and that the alarm will be directly linked to
local law enforcement.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 titles this act as "Alyssa's Law."
Section 2 adds a new Section 409-N to the Education Law. Subparagraph 1
Defines "panic alarm" as a silent security system signal generated by
the manual activation of a device intended to signal a life-threatening
or emergency situation requiring a response from law enforcement. Such
silent security system may include one or more of the following: wired
panic button or buttons, wireless panic button or buttons or a mobile or
computer application. Subparagraph 2 requires each public elementary and
secondary school building shall be equipped with at least one panic
alarm. The alarm shall be directly linked to local law enforcement
authorities. The alarm shall not be audible within the school building.
Subparagraph 3 says provisions of this section shall not be construed to
require a school district to alter or install a panic alarm system where
one that complies with this law already exists. Subparagraph 4 states
that any funds expended for the purposes of compliance with this section
shall be reimbursed through building aid granted to such school
district.
Section 2 is the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This bill is in memory of Alyssa Alhadeff, a Bergen County, New Jersey
native from Woodcliff Lake who was among the 17 people who were killed
in the Parkland, Florida, shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High
School on February 14, 2018. Some of Alyssa's relatives live in Rockland
County, NY. Alyssa's death is a stark reminder of the dangers of gun
violence and the need for adequate school security measures.
The State Legislature needs to do everything in its power to prevent
these tragedies from occurring within our public schools. This bill
requires that all public elementary and secondary schools be equipped
with a panic alarm for use in a school security emergency including, but
not limited to, a non-fire evacuation, lockdown, or active shooter situ-
ation. The panic alarm, which will not be audible within the school
building, must be directly linked to law enforcement authorities and
must immediately transmit a signal or message to the authorities upon
activation. The bill defines "panic alarm" as a silent security system
signal generated by the manual activation of a device intended to signal
a life-threatening or emergency situation that requires a response from
law enforcement.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-2024: S.5489 - Referred to Education
2021-2022: S.6237 - Referred to Education/A.6878 - Referred to Education
2019-2020: S.3620 - Referred to Education/A.6234 - Referred to Education
 
STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however that within
one year of the effective date of this act, all school districts 3 shall
be in compliance with the provisions of this act. Effective immediately,
the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation neces-
sary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are
authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.