Bill on wearable panic buttons for teachers clears committee
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Bill on wearable panic buttons for teachers clears committee February 19, 2025
Rep. Kevin Jackson, R-Bowling Green, holds up a wearable panic alert system while Rep. Chad Aull, D-Lexington, looks on. The lawmakers are co-sponsoring House Bill 14, which would allow schools to implement a wearable panic alert system and set up the framework for funding. The testimony was part of Wednesday’s House Primary and Secondary Education Committee meeting. A high-resolution photo can be found here.
FRANKFORT — Seven years ago, a gunman killed 17 people at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, including 14-year-old Alyssa Alhadeff.
Alyssa’s mother Lori Alhadeff joined Rep. Kevin Jackson, R-Bowling Green, Rep. Chad Aull, D-Lexington, and a group of Kentucky students to testify on House Bill 14 during the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee meeting on Wednesday.
HB 14, also known as Alyssa’s Law, would allow Kentucky public schools to implement a wearable panic alert system for teachers, administrators and other school staff. Jackson and Aull are co-sponsors of the legislation.
“The principle of Alyssa’s Law is simple: Time equals life. And we need to get our kids and teachers to safety quickly and reduce the response time of first responders,” Alhadeff said.
The bill defines a wearable panic alert system as a silent security system. It is a manually activated device that sends a nonaudible signal to the local 911 call center and emergency responder agencies.
Jackson said HB 14 would make Kentucky schools safer.
“Seconds matter in an emergency,” he said. “This is not only for an active shooter … I’ve got four little grandkids. That would be our worst nightmare, but it can be used for medical emergencies, fights, etc.”
Jackson showed an example of the device to the committee. He said its about the same size as the ID badges teachers already wear every day. After the button is pressed three times, the device vibrates and alerts first responders to the exact location of the emergency.
Aull said HB 14 does not currently fund the purchase of the system, but establishes the framework for funding in the biennial budget next year.
“The entire cost on the high end would be $6 million and on the low end, it would be about $2 million,” Aull added. “And the draft here is a 50/50 match, so the local school district would have some skin in the game as well as the general assembly.”
Rep. Tina Bojanowski, D-Louisville, who is also a teacher, said Jefferson County Public Schools is already in the process of rolling out a similar device.
“I believe that we have a different vendor than the one for the sample device,” she said. “If there are any limitations that are brought through this legislation that would keep you from having another vendor, would you be supportive in making sure multiple vendors (can be used)?”
Jackson and Aull said HB 14 is “vendor neutral.”
Installation isn’t the only cost school districts would have to consider. Aull said there are ongoing maintenance fees of up to $7,000 to $8,000 per campus.
Rep. Felicia Rabourn, R-Turners Station, asked if the proposed grant system in the bill would help with any ongoing costs. Under HB 14, The Center for School Safety would have the ability to establish the Wearable Panic Alert Grant Program.
Aull said the bill is written to incentivize installation.
“If the general assembly decides to put more money in the fund, then there will be plenty of opportunity for leftover dollars then to go pay for ongoing maintenance as well,” Aull said.
As for training, Rep. Ken Fleming, R-Louisville, asked who would be responsible for training teachers and other staff on how to use and maintain the devices and deploy them in the correct situation.
“I want to make sure that that’s harped on and emphasized in order to make sure that the proper protocol is trained for teachers, staff and so forth,” Fleming said.
Aull said the bill requires that all building personnel receive training on the protocol and the appropriate use of the system.
“That training would be led in conjunction with the school district and the vendor to provide that training on what they have installed in the school system,” Aull added.
Alyssa’s Law unanimously advanced from the committee and now heads to the full House for consideration.
News Releases are provided by the LRC Public Information Office. All photos are attributed to LRC Staff.
https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/publicservices/pio/release.html#HB14021925
