HB 1549

AN ACT TO CREATE "ALYSSA'S LAW," TO REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO IMPLEMENT SILENT PANIC ALARM SYSTEMS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENSURING THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS AND STAFF IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS; TO DEFINE TERMINOLOGY; TO REQUIRE EACH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CHARTER SCHOOL TO IMPLEMENT AND INSTALL A SILENT PANIC ALARM SYSTEM IN ALL ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS UNDER THEIR RESPECTIVE JURISDICTION BEGINNING WITH THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR; TO SPECIFY THE MINIMUM CAPABILITY AND FUNCTIONALITY REQUIREMENTS OF THE SILENT PANIC ALARM SYSTEMS; TO REQUIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE EACH MEMBER OF ITS PERSONNEL WITH A WEARABLE PANIC ALERT DEVICE THROUGHOUT EACH SCHOOL FACILITY, WHICH ALLOWS FOR IMMEDIATE CONTACT WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE AGENCIES; TO PROVIDE GUIDELINES FOR COORDINATION BETWEEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES; TO PROVIDE REGULAR TRAINING TO SCHOOL PERSONNEL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THE PROTOCOL AND APPROPRIATE USE OF THE PANIC ALARM SYSTEM BEFORE THE START OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR; TO ENSURE ACCESS TO SECURITY DATA TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE AGENCIES; TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROTECTION OF SUCH DATA AND EXEMPT THE DISCLOSURE THEREOF FROM THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT, EXCEPT IN CERTAIN INSTANCES; TO REQUIRE EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CHARTER SCHOOL TO SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DETAILING COMPLIANCE WITH THIS ACT AND ANY INCIDENTS REQUIRING THE USE OF THE PANIC ALARM SYSTEM; TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT TO ESTABLISH A GRANT PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ASSIST SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN COMPLIANCE; TO PRESCRIBE CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY OF RECEIPT OF GRANT FUNDS AND THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH SUCH FUNDS MAY BE USED; TO REQUIRE THE LEGISLATURE TO ANNUALLY APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS GRANT PROGRAM BY THE DEPARTMENT, WHICH SHALL ALLOCATE FUNDS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE SEVERABILITY OF THE PROVISION OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.