"Alyssa's Law Pilot Program"; enact to authorize implementation and installation of silent panic alarm systems in select public and charter schools.

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To: Education;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Butler-Washington

HOUSE BILL NO. 1373

AN ACT TO CREATE "ALYSSA'S LAW PILOT PROGRAM," TO REQUIRE 1
SCHOOL DISTRICTS SELECTED FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE PILOT PROGRAM 2
TO IMPLEMENT SILENT PANIC ALARM SYSTEMS FOR THE PURPOSE OF 3
ENSURING THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS AND STATE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR 4
CHARTER SCHOOLS LOCATED THEREIN; TO DEFINE TERMINOLOGY; TO REQUIRE 5
PARTICIPATING LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT OR CHARTER SCHOOL TO IMPLEMENT 6
AND INSTALL A SILENT PANIC ALARM SYSTEM IN ALL ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS 7
UNDER THEIR RESPECTIVE JURISDICTION BEGINNING WITH THE 2026-2027 8
SCHOOL YEAR; TO SPECIFY THE MINIMUM CAPABILITY AND FUNCTIONALITY 9
REQUIREMENTS OF THE SILENT PANIC ALARM SYSTEMS; TO REQUIRE 10
PARTICIPATING PUBLIC SCHOOLS OR CHARTER SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE EACH 11
MEMBER OF ITS PERSONNEL WITH A WEARABLE PANIC ALERT DEVICE 12
THROUGHOUT EACH SCHOOL FACILITY, WHICH ALLOWS FOR IMMEDIATE 13
CONTACT WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE 14
AGENCIES; TO PROVIDE GUIDELINES FOR COORDINATION BETWEEN 15
PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES; 16
TO PROVIDE REGULAR TRAINING TO SCHOOL PERSONNEL AND LAW 17
ENFORCEMENT ON THE PROTOCOL AND APPROPRIATE USE OF THE PANIC ALARM 18
SYSTEM BEFORE THE START OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR; TO ENSURE ACCESS TO 19
SECURITY DATA TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE 20
AGENCIES; TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROTECTION OF SUCH DATA AND EXEMPT 21
THE DISCLOSURE THEREOF FROM THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT, EXCEPT IN 22
CERTAIN INSTANCES; TO REQUIRE EACH PARTICIPATING SCHOOL DISTRICT 23
OR CHARTER SCHOOL TO SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE STATE 24
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DETAILING COMPLIANCE WITH THIS ACT AND ANY 25
INCIDENTS REQUIRING THE USE OF THE PANIC ALARM SYSTEM; TO REQUIRE 26
THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR 27
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT TO ESTABLISH A GRANT PROGRAM 28
ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ASSIST SCHOOL 29
DISTRICTS IN COMPLIANCE; TO PRESCRIBE CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY OF 30
RECEIPT OF GRANT FUNDS AND THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH SUCH FUNDS MAY 31
BE USED; TO REQUIRE THE LEGISLATURE TO ANNUALLY APPROPRIATE FUNDS 32
FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS GRANT PROGRAM BY THE DEPARTMENT, 33
WHICH SHALL ALLOCATE FUNDS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE 34
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SEVERABILITY OF THE PROVISION OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED 35
PURPOSES. 36
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 37
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as 38
"Alyssa's Law Pilot Program." 39
SECTION 2. The Legislature finds that ensuring the safety of 40
students and staff in public schools and charter schools is of 41
paramount importance. To enhance emergency response capabilities, 42
school districts shall implement silent panic alarm systems 43
capable of directly alerting law enforcement in the event of an 44
emergency. This act further establishes a grant program to assist 45
school districts in meeting the requirements set forth herein. 46
SECTION 3. As used in this act, the following terms shall 47
having the meaning ascribed herein, unless context of us clearly 48
requires otherwise: 49
(a) "Silent panic alarm system" means a system that 50
utilizes technology to silently and directly notify local law 51
enforcement agencies of an emergency situation within a school 52
building. 53
(b) "School district" means any public school district 54
within the State of Mississippi. 55
(c) "Eligible school" means any public elementary, 56
middle or high school under the jurisdiction of a school district 57
or charter school under the jurisdiction of a charter school 58
governing board. 59
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SECTION 4. (1) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, 60
the State Department of Education shall select one (1) local 61
school district or charter school in each Supreme Court district 62
to implement and install a silent panic alarm system as pilot 63
program schools meeting the following requirements: 64
(a) The system must integrate capabilities of directly 65
notify local law enforcement agencies of an emergency with 66
infrastructure to transmit E-911 call and mobile activation; 67
(b) The system must allow for activation by authorized 68
personnel in a discreet manner; and 69
(c) The system must integrate with other existing 70
school safety protocols consistent with the provisions of Sections 71
37-3-81, 37-3-83, 37-7-321, 37-7-323, 37-11-5, 37-11-29, 37-11-54, 72
37-11-67, 37-11-83, 37-13-91 and 37-47-1 et seq. 73
(2) Each pilot program school district or charter school 74
shall provide each member of its personnel with a wearable panic 75
alert device throughout each school facility, which allows for 76
immediate contact with local law enforcement and emergency 77
response agencies, and the capability of initiating a campus-wide 78
lockdown notification. 79
(3) (a) Each pilot program school district or charter 80
school shall establish and maintain a memorandum of understanding 81
(MOU) with local law enforcement agencies to coordinate response 82
procedures and ensure compatibility of the panic alarm system with 83
local emergency communication systems. 84
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(b) Pilot program school districts or charter schools 85
must provide regular training to school personnel and law 86
enforcement on the protocol and appropriate use of the panic alarm 87
system before the start of each school year. 88
(4) (a) Each pilot program school district or charter 89
school shall: 90
(i) Ensure that all security data, i.e., cameras, 91
maps, access control, within a school building are accessible by 92
local law enforcement and emergency response agencies; and 93
(ii) Coordinate with local law enforcement and 94
emergency response agencies to establish appropriate access 95
protocols. 96
(b) Any records, information, photographs, audio and 97
visual presentations, schematic diagrams, surveys, recommendation 98
or consultation or portions thereof relating directly to the 99
physical security or fire safety of the school facility or 100
revealing security or fire safety systems held by an agency shall 101
remain confidential and exempt from the Mississippi Public Records 102
Act of 1983 under the provisions of Chapter 61, Title 25, 103
Mississippi Code of 1972. However, any information made 104
confidential and exempted up the authority of this paragraph (b) 105
may be disclosed: 106
(i) To the property owner or leaseholder; 107
(ii) In furtherance of the official duties and 108
responsibilities of the agency holding the information; 109
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(iii) To another local, state or federal agency in 110
furtherance of that agency's official duties and responsibilities; 111
or 112
(iv) Upon a showing of good cause before a court 113
of competent jurisdiction. 114
(5) Each pilot program school district or charter school 115
shall submit an annual report to the State Department of Education 116
detailing compliance with this act and any incidents requiring the 117
use of the panic alarm system. 118
SECTION 5. (1) The State Department of Education shall 119
establish and administer a grant program to assist school 120
districts and charter schools selected for participation in the 121
pilot program in complying with the provisions of this act. 122
(2) School districts and charter schools selected for 123
participation in the pilot program shall be eligible to receive 124
grant funds if the local school board or charter school governing 125
board: 126
(a) Submits a completed application in a format 127
prescribed by the State Department of Education; 128
(b) Demonstrates financial need; 129
(c) Provides documentation of coordination with local 130
law enforcement agencies; and 131
(d) Presents a detailed implementation plan for 132
installing and maintaining a silent panic alarm system. 133
(3) Grant funds shall be used exclusively for: 134
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(a) The purchase, installation and maintenance of 135
silent panic alarm systems; 136
(b) Training of school personnel and law enforcement 137
and emergency response agency personnel on the use of such 138
systems; and 139
(c) Any other purposes directly related to compliance 140
with this act as determined by the State Department of Education. 141
(4) The Legislature shall appropriate funds annually for the 142
administration of this grant program by the department, which 143
shall allocate funds to selected pilot program school districts or 144
charter schools based on demonstrated need and compliance with 145
this act. 146
(5) (a) Pilot program school districts or charter schools 147
receiving grant funds shall submit an annual report to the 148
department detailing the use of funds and progress in implementing 149
silent panic alarm systems. 150
(b) The department shall conduct periodic audits to 151
ensure proper use of grant funds. 152
SECTION 6. The State Board of Education shall promulgate 153
rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this 154
act, as a necessary to protect the health and safety of students, 155
educators and school personnel, including, but not limited to: 156
(a) Establishing technical standards for silent panic 157
alarm systems; 158
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ST: "Alyssa's Law Pilot Program"; enact to
authorize implementation and installation of
silent panic alarm systems in select public and
charter schools.
(b) Developing application procedures for the grant 159
program; and 160
(c) Setting minimum training requirements for school 161
personnel and local law enforcement. 162
SECTION 7. If any provision of this act or the application 163
thereof is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the 164
other provisions or applications of this act that can be given 165
effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this 166
end, the provisions of this act are declared severable. 167
SECTION 8. This act shall take effect and be in force from 168
and after July 1, 2026. 169