New Jersey passed legislation in February 2019, making it mandatory for K-12 schools throughout the state to have silent panic alarms as an additional layer of security. The law was named Alyssa’s Law, in honor of Alyssa Alhadeff, one of the victims of the mass shooting incident at Marjory Stoneman Douglas School in Parkland, Florida.
The active shooter killed 17 people, including Alyssa, on February 14, 2018. New Jersey named the law after the 14-year-old girl because her family used to live in New Jersey. The legislation was already in the works but became more urgent after the mass shooting.
Alyssa’s Law Strategic Initiative
All public schools in New Jersey must equip their systems with a panic alarm in case of emergencies, such as active shooter incidents. The Bond Act grant provides full funding for the cost of emergency lights and alarms, as well as post-compliance of the law.
For a school to be eligible for the grant funding they must submit a school security grant application. Through this grant, schools can request funds to comply with the law or demonstrate full compliance with Alyssa’s Law. One or a combination of the following systems must be purchased and installed to meet compliance:
As long an NJDOE approves, a school district may also install an alternative emergency mechanism if it complies with Alyssa’s Law.
Once a school demonstrates compliance with all school buildings, the allocation of their school grant can be used for additional security improvements as outlined in Section A2.3 of the Preliminary Guidelines.
Convergint works with security solution providers all over the world to ensure the best solutions are available. Additionally, Convergint can help school districts purchase and install the right equipment, as well as help with post compliance issues.
With the legislation rolling out, Convergint can provide the solutions to these security needs and more.
