Pennycuick and Haywood to introduce bill requiring silent panic buttons in schools – The Mercury

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania State Senators Tracy Pennycuick, R-24th Dist., and Art Haywood, D-4th Dist., recently announced plans to introduce Alyssa’s Law, legislation addressing the issue of law enforcement response time when a life-threatening emergency occurs at a school.

The bipartisan bill requires all public schools in Pennsylvania to be equipped with silent panic alarms that directly notify law enforcement in the event of a school emergency. This law is of utmost importance as it allows school authorities to take proactive measures that can save lives in the event of an emergency.

Alyssa’s Law is named in honor of Alyssa Alhadeff, one of the victims of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas school shooting in Parkland, Florida. Thanks to the tireless advocacy of Alyssa’s family and her organization, Make Our Schools Safe, Alyssa’s Law was signed into law. in five other states and is underway in several others.

Pennycuick and Haywood hope this legislation will quickly pass the General Assembly, improving emergency response protocols in schools across the Commonwealth and ensuring our students are protected during life-threatening emergencies, according to a Press release.

“When a dangerous incident occurs on school grounds, responding as quickly as possible can save lives,” Pennycuick said. “We owe it to our children and our teachers to use every method available to give them the best chance of emerging from these emergency situations unscathed. »

“This legislation is a critical step in ensuring the safety of students across the Commonwealth,” Haywood said. “Installing panic buttons in schools allows a direct connection with local law enforcement, allowing police to respond more quickly in an emergency. I hope Pennsylvania will soon join the growing list of states that have adopted this common-sense, life-saving measure.

“Today, we are moving closer to making American students more likely to return home at the end of the day. Pennsylvania is proving itself to be a leader in school safety with this legislation,” said Lori Alhadeff, co-founder of MOSS and mother of Alyssa Alhadeff, victim of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas shooting in Parkland, Florida . “If my daughter’s school had panic alarms in the classroom, Alyssa might still be here today.

Jaidyn Turner, Alyssa Alhadeff’s cousin, added: “If by passing Alyssa’s Law we can save one life, it will have been worth it because students deserve to go to school every year. days and knowing that they are safe, whatever the situation. »