School Safety Legislation Overview
States across the country continue to propose and pass legislation that addresses school safety’s complex needs. These school safety laws cover aspects like school safety drills, family reunification plans, and emergency response tools. Learn more about these laws below.
“Alyssa’s Law”—named after Alyssa Alhadeff, a victim of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tragedy—requires public and charter schools to have silent panic alert systems linked directly to first responders and law enforcement agencies.
On May 5, 2023, Governor Abbott signed SB 838/HB 669 into law, requiring school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to provide silent panic alert technology in classrooms beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
Alyssa’s Law passed assembly in New York on June 4, 2022 and was signed by Governor Kathy Hochul on June 23, 2022.
Florida public and charter schools must have a mobile panic alert system. The Florida Department of Education named Raptor Technologies an approved partner for Alyssa’s Law compliance.
New Jersey passed Alyssa’s Law in February 2019. The law requires all New Jersey public K-12 schools to be equipped with a panic alarm linked to local law enforcement.
In March 2022, the Florida legislature approved updates to the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Act. The bill was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis June 7, 2022. There are many updates to the 2018 bill, including new school safety drill and family reunification requirements.
Signed into law on March 17, 2022, the bill states, “Lockdown drills may not include live simulations of or reenactments of active shooter scenarios that are not trauma-informed and age and developmentally appropriate.” Schools must also give participants advance warning of drills and have a family reunification plan.
Schools can exceed many of these mandates with Raptor Emergency Management. With Raptor, schools can manage drills, instantly notify first responders, accurately account for individuals, and safely reunify families.
Each school safety law has different requirements. Contact a Raptor representative today to discuss the laws specific to your district.
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