‘Alyssa’s Law’: Bend Rep. Emerson Levy’s bill to add school emergency ‘panic alarms’ passes Oregon House 50-0
(Update: Adding video)
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Alyssa’s Law (HB 3083), legislation that requires Oregon school districts to consider installing a panic alarm system in their schools, consisting of either a wireless or wearable panic alarm, passed the Oregon House Tuesday by a unanimous 50-0 vote.
Introduced by Rep. Emerson Levy, D-Bend, HB 3083 is named in memory of Alyssa Alhadeff, a 14-year-old student who tragically lost her life during the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in 2017.
Here's Levy's news release on the House passage of her legislation:
“As a mom, I know it’s essential that our kids are safe at school,” said Levy. “From a student needing an EpiPen to a natural disaster or man-made emergency, this legislation will give our schools, faculty, and students the resources they need to react in the little time they have and save lives. In an emergency, every second counts.”
The mobile-based emergency system is not limited to increasing response time in the worst-case scenario. Schools around the country that utilize the system found that 80% of alerts have been utilized for students having allergic reactions, seizures and heart issues. Through these systems, teachers or school staff can immediately connect to Emergency Medical Services and first responders.
“In 2023, we passed the necessary $2.5 million to get these systems set up in our schools. Now it’s time to take it a step further and encourage our schools to utilize the funds available to them to keep their campuses as safe as possible,” said Levy.
Lori Alhadeff, Alyssa Alhadeff’s mother and founder of Make Our Schools Safe, an organization dedicated to protecting students and teachers at school, joined Representative Levy in a public hearing on HB 3083 in front of the Oregon House Committee on Education.
“I want to applaud Representative Levy and the Oregon House for their swift and proactive work to make schools safe in Oregon through passing Alyssa’s Law,” said Alhadeff. “When this critical bill is passed through the Senate, Oregon will join seven other states in the country that have passed Alyssa’s Law, setting a standard that children should be safe and thrive in schools. Every time a panic alarm is used, I know it is Alyssa saving lives.”
“I was teaching second period at Tigard High School when we learned of the Parkland shooting. I will never forget that moment,” said Rep. Courtney Neron (D - King City, Sherwood, Tigard, and Wilsonville), Chair of the House Committee on Education. “The grief of losing students to gun violence continues to fuel my service as a lawmaker and is a clear priority for our policy committee. We must take action to prevent tragedies and implement life-saving emergency systems. Alyssa’s Law is a critical step forward.”
“Parents deserve to know their children are safe at school,” said Rep.
April Dobson (D-Happy Valley), Vice-Chair of the House Committee on Education. “The panic alarms encouraged by this common-sense bill will save student lives and help our first-responders, allowing them to respond quickly and effectively in emergency situations.”
Funding for Alyssa’s Law is available to school districts through the Oregon Department of Education’s School Safety and Emergency Management program.
The Wireless Panic Alarm Grant is open to school districts that provide services to students during the regular school year. Applicants may request grant funds for every school building used by students during the school year. School districts will be reimbursed $2,000 per school in their district.
Districts that wish to apply or have questions can visit ODE’s SSEM website or email ODE.SSEM@ode.oregon.gov to request a link for an application.
House Bill 3083 now moves to the Senate for a vote.
