HB 653 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in school safety and security, providing for panic alerts.

PRINTER'S NO.   662

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 653
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY M. BROWN, RIVERA, JAMES, COOK AND HANBIDGE,
        FEBRUARY 20, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS AND TECHNOLOGY,
        FEBRUARY 20, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
 2      act relating to the public school system, including certain
 3      provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
 4      schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
 5      laws relating thereto," in school safety and security,
 6      providing for panic alerts.
 7      This act may be referred to as Alyssa's Law.
 8      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 9   hereby enacts as follows:
10      Section 1.    The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
11   as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding a
12   section to read:
13   Section 1305.2-B.    Panic alerts.
14      (a)   Requirement.--Each public school building in this
15   Commonwealth must be equipped with a panic alert system for use
16   in a school security emergency, including, but not limited to, a
17   nonfire evacuation, lockdown or active shooter situation. The
18   panic alert must be directly linked to the local law enforcement
19   agencies designated as first responders to the school's campus
 1   and must immediately transmit a signal or message to those
 2   authorities on activation.
 3      (b)   Definitions.--As used in this section, the following
 4   words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this
 5   subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
 6      "Panic alert."   A silent security system notification
 7   generated by the manual activation of a device, including a
 8   mobile or computer application, wired panic button or wireless
 9   panic button, intended to communicate a life-threatening or
10   emergency situation that requires a response from law
11   enforcement.
12      "Public school building."     All buildings on a public
13   elementary, middle or high school campus where instruction takes
14   place. The term includes all locations where students are
15   present during the school day.
16      Section 2.   This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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