OKLAHOMA CITY – “Alyssa’s Law” went into effect in Oklahoma on July 1.
Gov. J. Kevin Stitt said legislation, which he signed in June, will improve safety and security of students and staff in schools across the state.
House Bill 4073, also known as “Alyssa’s Law,” implements a mobile panic alert system in all school districts starting this fall.
The act is named after Alyssa Alhadeff, a 14-year-old student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. She was the victim of a school shooter who killed 17 people on Feb. 14, 2018.
Key Features of Alyssa’s Law include:
• Real-time coordination: The mobile panic alert system will connect emergency service technologies to ensure real-time coordination among multiple first responder agencies.
• Enhanced 911 integration: The system will integrate with public safety answering point infrastructure to transmit 911 calls and mobile activations, providing immediate alerts to designated school personnel.
• Comprehensive emergency response: Emergency responders will receive vital information such as floor plans and caller location to assist during emergencies, ensuring a prompt and efficient response.
“As the father of young kids, I know how important it is to drop them off at school and know they will be safe,” said Stitt. “School safety is a top priority of mine and this legislation will help schools better coordinate with law enforcement to ensure real- time communication when it matters most.”
HB 4073 bolsters local school choice and free market competition for school mobile panic button systems. The legislation tasks the State Board of Education with adopting a list of approved mobile panic alert systems that meet rigorous standards. These systems must:
• Automatically alert designated school personnel during an emergency initiated by smartphone application, phone call, text message, or other technology.
• Provide emergency responders with critical situational information during a 911 call.
• Integrate designated school personnel with emergency responders for real-time situational updates.
“We work with multiple school districts across the nation and in Oklahoma to tap directly into 911 communications to give law enforcement real-time insight into a school during an emergency,” said Ron Siegenthaler, chairman of 911Geo-Fence, a Tulsa-based public safety company providing mission-critical situational awareness between schools and the existing 911 system. “School safety is a priority for all. As Oklahomans, it was important for us to work with Oklahoma’s elected officials to ensure local schools have the opportunity to pick a school safety product that best meets their needs and aligns with their community’s emergency technology.”
HB 4073 also allows schools to tap into existing funding under the “School Security Revolving Fund.”
