Many parents and lawmakers advocate for state and federal school safety laws modeled after Alyssa’s Law. This legislation requires public schools to install panic alarms directly linked to local law enforcement and first responders.
Since every public education institution in the US is required to have a school safety plan, Pennsylvania legislators are aiming to bolster these plans with the recommendations mandated in Alyssa’s Law: panic alert systems that reduce emergency response times. In May 2024, Pennsylvania lawmakers introduced SB1206 to equip Pennsylvania schools with panic alert technology.
Alyssa’s Law
Alyssa’s Law requires public schools to install silent panic alarms directly linked to law enforcement. The law seeks to save lives by decreasing the time for first responders to arrive at a school emergency. The legislation also aims to empower staff to request immediate assistance in every emergency, from natural disasters to violent incidents.
While federal lawmakers have introduced Alyssa’s Law, no federal school safety laws currently require panic alert systems. Several states have passed versions of Alyssa’s Law:
Other states have also introduced Alyssa’s Law including:
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Nebraska
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Virginia
- Washington
Alyssa’s Law in Pennsylvania
In the absence of federal school safety laws, Pennsylvania has proposed legislation to improve school safety. State Senators Art Haywood and Tracy Pennycuick introduced Alyssa’s Law legislation in the Pennsylvania Senate.
According to Senator Haywood, SB1206 “is a critical step toward ensuring the safety of the Commonwealth’s students. Installing panic buttons in schools allows for direct connection to local law enforcement, in turn allowing police to respond faster in the event of an emergency. I am hopeful that Pennsylvania will soon join the growing list of states that have enacted this common-sense and lifesaving measure.”
Senators Haywood and Pennycuick hope the legislation will swiftly pass through the General Assembly, improving school safety plans and emergency protocols within schools across Pennsylvania.
Alyssa’s Law in Pennsylvania is intended to accelerate response time in emergencies, including but not limited to nonfire evacuations, lockdowns, and active shooter situations. SB1206 requires:
- Each public school building in the Commonwealth must be equipped with a panic alert system for use in a school security emergency.
- The panic alert must be directly linked to the local law enforcement agencies designated as first responders to the school’s campus and must immediately transmit a signal or message to those authorities on activation.
The bill defines “panic alert” as “A silent security system notification generated by the manual activation of a device, including a mobile or computer application, wired panic button or wireless
panic button, intended to communicate a life-threatening or emergency situation that requires a response from law enforcement.”
How Can Pennsylvania Schools Comply with Alyssa’s Law Requirements?
To comply with Pennsylvania’s Alyssa’s Law requirements, schools must purchase and implement school safety solutions, including wearable panic buttons, that integrate with local first responder agencies. The CENTEGIX Safety Platform™ is designed to perform precisely these functions and comply with Alyssa’s Law. In everyday and extreme emergencies, CENTEGIX’s incident response safety solutions empower school staff to request immediate help and accelerate emergency response.
CENTEGIX solutions are foundational to an effective school safety plan. The functionalities of the CENTEGIX Safety Platform exceed Alyssa’s Law requirements and protect thousands of schools nationwide, including in 4 of the 10 largest school districts in the United States.
CrisisAlert™
CENTEGIX CrisisAlert™ is a wearable panic button solution that empowers school staff to request help immediately in an emergency. With the push of a button, users discreetly alert responders who receive the precise incident location details.
Safety Blueprint™
CENTEGIX Safety Blueprint delivers accurate digital mapping. The solution enables users to add safety assets to the digital map to help on-site responders identify the location of life-saving devices such as stop the bleed kits, AEDs and fire extinguishers.
Together, Safety Blueprint and CrisisAlert offer these benefits:
- Features campus-wide emergency notifications using strobes, desktop screen takeovers, and intercom announcements
- Integrates with public safety answering point infrastructure to communicate emergencies directly
- Facilitates real-time coordination among first responder agencies
- Provides critical information in real-time to designated school personnel and first responders
- Immediately transmits critical information such as alert location to assist first responders during emergencies
- Enables staff to request help discreetly, thus preventing further escalation of an ongoing safety incident
- Provides full campus coverage, indoors and outdoors, on private, installed networks that don’t rely on Wi-Fi or cellular service
CENTEGIX technology meets the alert system requirement of Alyssa’s Law and adds another layer of safety. Staff can use CENTEGIX solutions to plan evacuations and reunifications, which are imperative to keeping students and staff members safe during potentially threatening events. The Safety Platform helps schools execute every element of their school safety plan.
Pennsylvania Schools Can Achieve Alyssa’s Law Objectives with CENTEGIX
Though federal school safety laws do not yet require them, some Pennsylvania schools already have panic alert systems. Bethel Park School District Superintendent Dr. James Walsh says, “With the technology available, it makes complete sense in terms of safety and security and reducing response times.” The Plum Borough School District implemented CENTEGIX CrisisAlert, and according to the district, this “represents an innovative technology solution that will heighten safety and security measures for all individuals within our school district.”
School staff have shared overwhelmingly positive experiences with the wearable CrisisAlert badge. Users say CENTEGIX solutions are easy to use and increase staff safety.
Alyssa Alhadeff’s mother, Lori Alhadeff advocates for the adoption of federal school safety laws like Alyssa’s Law. Alhadeff has high hopes for the Pennsylvania law: “Today, we are one step closer to America’s students being more likely to come home at the end of the day. Pennsylvania is proving itself to be a leader in school safety through this legislation. Had my daughter’s school had panic alarms in the classroom, Alyssa might still be here today.”
Every. Second. Matters.® Be prepared if an emergency strikes. CENTEGIX is a national leader in innovating school safety solutions that help keep students and staff members safe from potential threats. Click here to learn more about what we can do for your district’s school safety plan and to see a demo of the CENTEGIX Safety Platform.
