An Act to Require School Boards and Governing Bodies of Approved Private Schools to Implement Wearable Panic Alert Systems

Printed on recycled paper
132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 808
H.P. 515 House of Representatives, March 4, 2025
An Act to Require School Boards and Governing Bodies of
Approved Private Schools to Implement Wearable Panic Alert
Systems
Received by the Clerk of the House on February 27, 2025. Referred to the Committee on
Education and Cultural Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to
Joint Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MASTRACCIO of Sanford.
Cosponsored by Senator INGWERSEN of York and
Representatives: CROCKETT of Portland, DODGE of Belfast, KUHN of Falmouth, MEYER
of Eliot, MURPHY of Scarborough, RIELLY of Westbrook, SARGENT of York, Senator:
RAFFERTY of York.

Page 1 - 132LR1419(01)
1Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
2Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §6558 is enacted to read:
3§6558. Wearable panic alert systems
4 Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, a school board or a governing body of an
5 approved private school shall implement at each school building a wearable panic alert
6 system. As used in this section, "wearable panic alert system" means a collection of
7 networked wearable devices that can transmit 9-1-1 calls and other notifications or
8 otherwise allow for immediate contact with local emergency response agencies.
91. Systems integration. A wearable panic alert system must be capable of integrating
10 with local public safety answering point infrastructure to transmit a 9-1-1 call and initiating
11 a campuswide lockdown notification.
122. Device distribution. A school board or a governing body of an approved private
13 school shall provide each staff person in a school building with a wearable panic alert
14 system device.
153. Training. Prior to the first day of school each year, a school board or a governing
16 body of an approved private school shall ensure that each staff person in a school building
17 receives training on the protocol for and appropriate use of a wearable panic alert system
18 device.
194. Security data accessibility. A school board or a governing body of an approved
20 private school shall ensure that all security data within a school building are accessible by
21 a local law enforcement agency and coordinate with the local law enforcement agency to
22 establish appropriate access protocols. Accessible security data must include access to data
23 from cameras and maps.
245. Records. This subsection applies to records related to physical security and fire
25 safety of school buildings.
26 A. Any records, information, photographs, audio and visual presentations, schematic
27 diagrams, surveys, recommendations or consultations or portions thereof relating
28 directly to the physical security or fire safety of a school building or revealing security
29 or fire safety systems that are accessed or held by a local law enforcement agency under
30 this section are confidential and are not public records pursuant to Title 1, chapter 13,
31 subchapter 1.
32 B. Information made confidential under paragraph A may be disclosed:
33 (1) To the property owner or leaseholder of the school building;
34 (2) In furtherance of the official duties and responsibilities of the local law
35 enforcement agency holding the information;
36 (3) To a local, state or federal agency in furtherance of that agency's official duties
37 and responsibilities; and
38 (4) Upon a showing of good cause before a court of competent jurisdiction.
396. Rules. The department may adopt rules to implement this section. Rules adopted
40 pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375,
41 subchapter 2-A.
Page 2 - 132LR1419(01)
1SUMMARY
2 This bill requires, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, a school board or a
3 governing body of an approved private school to implement at each school building a
4 wearable panic alert system that is capable of integrating with local public safety answering
5 point infrastructure to transmit a 9-1-1 call and initiating a campuswide lockdown
6 notification. It directs a school board or a governing body of an approved private school
7 to provide each staff person in a school building with a wearable panic alert device and
8 training on the use of the device. It requires each school board and approved private school
9 governing body to ensure that all security data within a school building are accessible by a
10 local law enforcement agency. It stipulates that records related to physical security or fire
11 safety are not public records pursuant to the Freedom of Access Act but does provide for
12 certain disclosures.
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12