West Montgomery Times

Pennsylvania State Senators Tracy Pennycuick (R-24) and Art Haywood (D-4) have announced their intent to introduce Alyssa’s Law, a legislation aimed at improving law enforcement response time during life-threatening emergencies in schools. The proposed bill mandates that all public schools be equipped with silent panic alarms, which would directly notify law enforcement in the event of a school-based emergency.

Named after Alyssa Alhadeff, a victim of the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas school shooting in Parkland, Florida, Alyssa’s Law has been enacted in five states due to the relentless advocacy by Alyssa’s family and their organization, Make Our Schools Safe. The legislation is currently under consideration in several other states.

Senators Pennycuick and Haywood are hopeful that this legislation will quickly pass through the General Assembly, thereby enhancing emergency response protocols within schools across the Commonwealth and ensuring student safety during life-threatening emergencies.

“When a dangerous incident occurs on school grounds, the most rapid response possible can save lives,” Senator Pennycuick said. “We owe it to our children and teachers to use every method available to give them the best chance to get through these emergencies unharmed.”

Senator Haywood echoed these sentiments: “This legislation is a critical step toward ensuring the safety of the Commonwealth’s students. Installing panic buttons in schools allows for direct connection to local law enforcement, allowing police to respond faster in an emergency. I am hopeful that Pennsylvania will soon join the growing list of states that have enacted this common-sense and lifesaving measure.”

Lori Alhadeff, co-founder of MOSS and mother of Alyssa Alhadeff stated: “Today, we are one step closer to America’s students being more likely to come home at the end of the day. Pennsylvania is proving itself to be a leader in school safety through this legislation.” She added that if her daughter’s school had panic alarms in the classroom, Alyssa might still be alive today.

Alyssa Alhadeff’s cousin, Jaidyn Turner, also expressed support for the legislation: “If in passing Alyssa’s Law we are able to save one life it will have been worth it, because students deserve to go to school every day and know they are safe no matter what situations arise.”