Alabama Senate committee approves bill requiring emergency buttons in public schools
An Alabama Senate committee unanimously approved a bill on Wednesday that would require school boards to install an 'emergency button' in order to enhance response times to school emergencies.
HB 234, sponsored by Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton, passed the House of Representatives 58-30 in March. The legislation would require public school employees who are around students to be equipped with an emergency button. It also mandates regular training for employees with the technology.
'We've heard the expressions like every second counts time equals lives. These are expressions that are often heard in crisis and emergency incidents,' Baker said. 'With this mobile rapid response technology in place, if this bill passes, then teachers, administrators, office, staff, custodians, lunchroom workers, maintenance and other education employees become the eyes and ears, internally and externally across the school campus to activate an alert that immediately notifies school officials and law enforcement of the exact location for the most rapid response to the incident.'
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An amendment that would extend the implementation time of the technology on the condition of additional funding specifically for school public safety starting in 2030 was adopted unanimously by the Senate Education Policy Committee.
'That actually sort of extends it possibly even beyond that, if there is not annual dedicated funding for school safety,' Baker said.
Baker said the technology would improve response times with first responders receiving the exact location of the emergency. Baker said on the House floor in March that an emergency is not limited to a shooting threat, but could also be used for a medical emergency.
Most of the concerns toward the bill in the House revolved around whether schools had the resources to install and maintain the technology.
Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia, said he is concerned about the legislation not addressing the root of the issue of safety in schools. He said there is a lack of discipline in the home that leads to safety issues at schools.
'We continually address these issues of school safety, and I'm 100% for that, but my concern is that we never seem to really address the reasons that we have these issues,' Stutts said.
The bill will now be considered by the full Senate.
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