ALYSSA'S LAW
WHAT IS IT?
Alyssa’s Law is critical legislation addressing the issue of law enforcement response time when a life-threatening emergency occurs because time equals life. The law calls for the installation of panic alarms that are directly linked to local law enforcement. In the case of any emergency, authorities are notified with the push of a button, that then sends a lockdown alert across the schools' campus. ​
ALYSSA'S LAW IN TENNESSEE
May 2023, Gov. Bill Lee (R-TN) signed HB0322 into law. As written, the full version of Alyssa's Law passed in Florida requires that schools implement panic alarms paid for with a dedicated funding source. Tennessee's version of the law only asks that schools "CONSIDER" the use of panic alarms, and does not denote specific funding for schools to purchase this needed security system.
Our coalition is demanding that the full version of Alyssa's Law be enacted in Tennessee. ​
ALYSSA'S LAW NATIONAL REACH
To date, versions of Alyssa's Law have passed in seven states:
NJ (2019) - requires panic alarms, security grant funding
FL (2020) - requires panic alarms, dedicated recurring funding
NY (2022) - requires school boards to include information
regarding the decision to implement panic alarms
TX (2023) - requires panic alarms, one-time funding
TN (2023) - "considers" the use of panic alarms
UT (2024) - requires panic alarms, dedicated recurring funding
OK (2024) - requires panic alarms, dedicated revolving funding
Alyssa's Law has been introduced for passage in AL, AR, AZ, CT, GA, IL, KY, MA, ME, MI, MS, MT, OH, OR, PA, SC, VA, WA, WV and in Congress.