Bill Text: NJ S365 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Amended

---

Bill Title: "Alyssa's Law"; requires public school buildings to be equipped with panic alarm linked to local law enforcement. **

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-06-21 - Substituted by A764 (3R) [S365 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2018-S365-Amended.html

---

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 365

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  RONALD L. RICE

District 28 (Essex)

Senator  M. TERESA RUIZ

District 29 (Essex)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Senators Diegnan and Stack

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     "Alyssa's Law"; requires public school buildings to be equipped with emergency light and panic alarm linked to local law enforcement.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Education Committee on May 14, 2018, with amendments.

  

An Act concerning school security alarms and supplementing chapter 41 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     ¹1.   This act shall be known and may be cited as "Alyssa's Law."¹

 

     ¹[1.] 2.¹     a.  As used in this section:

     "Emergency light" means a red light that is affixed to the exterior of a school building in a highly visible location above or near the front entrance or, in the case of a school building which is not clearly visible from the nearest public roadway, located on that public roadway.

     "Panic alarm" means a silent security system signal generated by the manual activation of a device intended to signal a life-threatening or emergency situation requiring a response from law enforcement.

     b.    Each public elementary and secondary school building shall be equipped with at least one panic alarm for use in a school security emergency including, but not limited to, a non-fire evacuation, lockdown, or active shooter situation.  The alarm shall be directly linked to local law enforcement authorities or, in the case of a school building located in a municipality in which there is no municipal police department, a location designated by the Superintendent of State Police, and shall immediately transmit a signal or message to such authorities upon activation.  The alarm shall not be audible within the school building.

     c.     Each public elementary and secondary school building shall be equipped with an emergency light that is linked to the school's panic alarm and which turns on when the panic alarm is activated.

     ¹d.  Each panic alarm and emergency light system required under this section shall adhere to nationally recognized industry standards, including the standards of the National Fire Protection Association and Underwriters Laboratories.

     e.  Each panic alarm and emergency light system required under this section shall be installed solely by a person licensed to engage in the alarm business in accordance with the provisions of section 7 of P.L.1997, c.305 (C.45:5A-27).¹

 

     ¹[2.] 3.¹     Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection a. of section 14 of P.L.2000, c.72 (C.18A:7G-14) to the contrary, the
proceeds of bonds authorized to be issued to fund the State share of the costs of SDA district school facilities projects or the State share of the costs of school facilities projects in all other districts, including county vocational school districts, shall be used to fund the full cost of the panic alarms and emergency lights required in public elementary and secondary school buildings in any district pursuant to section 1 of this act.

 

     ¹[3.] 4.¹     This act shall take effect on the first day of the tenth month after enactment.