3.8.25 – THV – LITTLE ROCK, Ark.
In an effort to enhance security measures in schools, Arkansas lawmakers proposed legislation that would add panic buttons at campuses across the state.
While in the legislative session, lawmakers in Arkansas focused on enhancing school security measures by drawing inspiration from other states’ initiatives. On Thursday, Rep. Zack Gramlich (R-Fort Smith) introduced House Bill 1492, proposing wearable panic alert devices for all teachers.
“It tells us exactly where [they are] in the school so that admin, school resource officers can respond, or even as it talks in the bill integrating with local public safety infrastructure so that we can have police notified immediately,” Gramlich explained.
The bill also draws inspiration from Alyssa’s Law, which as of May 2024 has been enacted in seven states across the country. The law came about as a result of the deadly 2018 Parkland school shooting in Florida.
Lori Alhadeff, whose daughter Alyssa tragically lost her life as a result of the shooting, testified in support of the bill.
“Alyssa was my beautiful, fearless, 14-year-old daughter. She was full of life and passion and dreams, she had her whole future ahead of her but on February 14, 2018, that future was stolen she was one of the 17 victims murdered at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida,” described Alhadeff as she emphasized the legislation’s life-saving potential by reducing emergency response times.
However, some lawmakers expressed funding concerns.
“How are we going to pay for this and this looks pretty expensive?,” asked Rep. Stetson Painter (R-Mountain Home).
Meanwhile, Rep. Gramlich estimated costs at around $8,000 per year for a large campus.
Arkansas Education Secretary Jacob Oliva suggested the possibility of using existing funds for statewide procurement to address financial concerns.
“I think there is an opportunity if that funding was to sustain that we can take a portion of that funding and do a statewide procurement to invest in something of this caliber,” he added.
The bill was withdrawn, and the committee’s intention is to add amendments to it.