Bipartisan legislation that would allow Kentucky teachers to wear a silent alarm panic button while in school, was approved by the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee during their meeting on Wednesday.
Rep. Kevin Jackson, R-Bowling Green, Rep. Chad Aull, D-Lexington, are the sponsors of House Bill 14, also known as Alyssa’s law, to remember 14-year-old Alyssa Alhadeff, who was one of the 17 victims shot to death seven years ago at at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. It would allow Kentucky public schools to implement a wearable panic alert system for teachers, administrators and other school staff.
The bill defines a wearable panic alert system as a silent security system. It is a manually activated device that sends a non-audible 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. 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 noted that it’s 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 told the panel 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. 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.”
The bill, which won unanimous adoption by the committee, now heads to the House floor.
By Tom Latek, Kentucky Today
