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H. B. No. 1549 *HR43/R1971* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Education;
Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Representatives Owen, Hurst, McLean,
Butler-Washington
HOUSE BILL NO. 1549
AN ACT TO CREATE "ALYSSA'S LAW," TO REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS 1
TO IMPLEMENT SILENT PANIC ALARM SYSTEMS FOR THE PURPOSE OF 2
ENSURING THE SAFETY OF STUDENTS AND STAFF IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND 3
CHARTER SCHOOLS; TO DEFINE TERMINOLOGY; TO REQUIRE EACH LOCAL 4
SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CHARTER SCHOOL TO IMPLEMENT AND INSTALL A 5
SILENT PANIC ALARM SYSTEM IN ALL ELIGIBLE SCHOOLS UNDER THEIR 6
RESPECTIVE JURISDICTION BEGINNING WITH THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR; 7
TO SPECIFY THE MINIMUM CAPABILITY AND FUNCTIONALITY REQUIREMENTS 8
OF THE SILENT PANIC ALARM SYSTEMS; TO REQUIRE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND 9
CHARTER SCHOOLS TO PROVIDE EACH MEMBER OF ITS PERSONNEL WITH A 10
WEARABLE PANIC ALERT DEVICE THROUGHOUT EACH SCHOOL FACILITY, WHICH 11
ALLOWS FOR IMMEDIATE CONTACT WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND 12
EMERGENCY RESPONSE AGENCIES; TO PROVIDE GUIDELINES FOR 13
COORDINATION BETWEEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT 14
AGENCIES; TO PROVIDE REGULAR TRAINING TO SCHOOL PERSONNEL AND LAW 15
ENFORCEMENT ON THE PROTOCOL AND APPROPRIATE USE OF THE PANIC ALARM 16
SYSTEM BEFORE THE START OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR; TO ENSURE ACCESS TO 17
SECURITY DATA TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE 18
AGENCIES; TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROTECTION OF SUCH DATA AND EXEMPT 19
THE DISCLOSURE THEREOF FROM THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT, EXCEPT IN 20
CERTAIN INSTANCES; TO REQUIRE EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND CHARTER 21
SCHOOL TO SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF 22
EDUCATION DETAILING COMPLIANCE WITH THIS ACT AND ANY INCIDENTS 23
REQUIRING THE USE OF THE PANIC ALARM SYSTEM; TO REQUIRE THE STATE 24
BOARD OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE 25
IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS ACT TO ESTABLISH A GRANT PROGRAM 26
ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO ASSIST SCHOOL 27
DISTRICTS IN COMPLIANCE; TO PRESCRIBE CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY OF 28
RECEIPT OF GRANT FUNDS AND THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH SUCH FUNDS MAY 29
BE USED; TO REQUIRE THE LEGISLATURE TO ANNUALLY APPROPRIATE FUNDS 30
FOR THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS GRANT PROGRAM BY THE DEPARTMENT, 31
WHICH SHALL ALLOCATE FUNDS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE 32
SEVERABILITY OF THE PROVISION OF THIS ACT; AND FOR RELATED 33
PURPOSES. 34
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 35
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as 36
"Alyssa's Law." 37
SECTION 2. The Legislature finds that ensuring the safety of 38
students and staff in public schools and charter schools is of 39
paramount importance. To enhance emergency response capabilities, 40
school districts shall implement silent panic alarm systems 41
capable of directly alerting law enforcement in the event of an 42
emergency. This act further establishes a grant program to assist 43
school districts in meeting the requirements set forth herein. 44
SECTION 3. As used in this act, the following terms shall 45
have the meanings ascribed herein, unless the context clearly 46
requires otherwise: 47
(a) "Silent Panic Alarm System" means a system that 48
utilizes technology to silently and directly notify local law 49
enforcement agencies of an emergency situation within a school 50
building. 51
(b) "School District" means any public school district 52
within the State of Mississippi. 53
(c) "Eligible School" means any public elementary, 54
middle or high school under the jurisdiction of a school district 55
or charter school under the jurisdiction of a charter school 56
governing board. 57
SECTION 4. (1) Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year, 58
each local school district and charter school shall ensure that 59
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all eligible schools under their jurisdiction implement and 60
install a silent panic alarm system meeting the following 61
requirements: 62
(a) The system must integrate capabilities of directly 63
notifying local law enforcement agencies of an emergency with 64
infrastructure to transmit E-911 call and mobile activation; 65
(b) The system must allow for activation by authorized 66
personnel in a discreet manner; and 67
(c) The system must integrate with other existing 68
school safety protocols consistent with the provisions of Sections 69
37-3-81, 37-3-83, 37-7-321, 37-7-323, 37-11-5, 37-11-29, 37-11-54, 70
37-11-67, 37-11-83, 37-13-91 and 37-47-1 et seq. 71
(2) Each school district and charter school shall provide 72
each member of its personnel with a wearable panic alert device 73
throughout each school facility, which allows for immediate 74
contact with local law enforcement and emergency response 75
agencies, and the capability of initiating a campus-wide lockdown 76
notification. 77
(3) (a) Each school district and charter school shall 78
establish and maintain a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with 79
local law enforcement agencies to coordinate response procedures 80
and ensure compatibility of the panic alarm system with local 81
emergency communication systems. 82
(b) School districts and charter schools must provide 83
regular training to school personnel and law enforcement on the 84
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protocol and appropriate use of the panic alarm system before the 85
start of each school year. 86
(4) (a) Each school district and charter school shall: 87
(i) Ensure that all security data, i.e., cameras, 88
maps, access control, within a school building are accessible by 89
local law enforcement and emergency response agencies; and 90
(ii) Coordinate with local law enforcement and 91
emergency response agencies to establish appropriate access 92
protocols. 93
(b) Any records, information, photographs, audio and 94
visual presentations, schematic diagrams, surveys, recommendation 95
or consultation or portions thereof relating directly to the 96
physical security or fire safety of the school facility or 97
revealing security or fire safety systems held by an agency shall 98
remain confidential and exempt from the Mississippi Public Records 99
Act of 1983 under the provisions of Chapter 61, Title 25, 100
Mississippi Code of 1972. However, any information made 101
confidential and exempted under the authority of this paragraph 102
(b) may be disclosed: 103
(i) To the property owner or leaseholder; 104
(ii) In furtherance of the official duties and 105
responsibilities of the agency holding the information; 106
(iii) To another local, state or federal agency in 107
furtherance of that agency's official duties and responsibilities; 108
or 109
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(iv) Upon a showing of good cause before a court 110
of competent jurisdiction. 111
(5) Each school district and charter school shall submit an 112
annual report to the State Department of Education detailing 113
compliance with this act and any incidents requiring the use of 114
the panic alarm system. 115
SECTION 5. (1) The State Department of Education shall 116
establish and administer a grant program to assist school 117
districts and charter schools in complying with the provisions of 118
this act. 119
(2) School districts and charter schools shall be eligible 120
to receive grant funds if the local school board or charter school 121
governing board: 122
(a) Submits a completed application in a format 123
prescribed by the State Department of Education; 124
(b) Demonstrates financial need; 125
(c) Provides documentation of coordination with local 126
law enforcement agencies; and 127
(d) Presents a detailed implementation plan for 128
installing and maintaining a silent panic alarm system. 129
(3) Grant funds shall be used exclusively for: 130
(a) The purchase, installation and maintenance of 131
silent panic alarm systems; 132
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(b) Training of school personnel and law enforcement 133
and emergency response agency personnel on the use of such 134
systems; and 135
(c) Any other purposes directly related to compliance 136
with this act as determined by the State Department of Education. 137
(4) The Legislature shall appropriate funds annually for the 138
administration of this grant program by the department, which 139
shall allocate funds to school districts based on demonstrated 140
need and compliance with this act. 141
(5) (a) School districts receiving grant funds shall submit 142
an annual report to the department detailing the use of funds and 143
progress in implementing silent panic alarm systems. 144
(b) The department shall conduct periodic audits to 145
ensure proper use of grant funds. 146
SECTION 6. The State Board of Education shall promulgate 147
rules and regulations necessary for the implementation of this 148
act, to protect the health and safety of students, educators and 149
school personnel, including, but not limited to: 150
(a) Establishing technical standards for silent panic 151
alarm systems; 152
(b) Developing application procedures for the grant 153
program; and 154
(c) Setting minimum training requirements for school 155
personnel and local law enforcement. 156
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ST: "Alyssa's Law"; enact to authorize the
implementation and installation of silent panic
alarm systems in public and charter schools.
SECTION 7. If any provision of this act or the application 157
thereof is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the 158
other provisions or applications of this act that can be given 159
effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this 160
end, the provisions of this act are declared severable. 161
SECTION 8. This act shall take effect and be in force from 162
and after July 1, 2026. 163