COLUMBUS – State Representatives Angie King (R-Celina) provided sponsor testimony in House Finance Committee on the Save Our Schools Act (formerly known as Alyssa’s Law) – legislation that works to enhance safety in Ohio school districts and communities by creating a pilot grant program that will allow schools the opportunity to purchase a variety of panic alert systems as well as artificial intelligence firearm detection software.
These panic alert systems work to help accelerate law enforcement response time when life-threatening emergencies occur on school campuses.
“While standard emergency procedures are important, this legislation addresses a critical gap by empowering educators with a rapid response tool,” said King. “In a crisis, seconds matter.”
The Department of Public Safety will equally distribute grants to schools in urban, suburban, and rural areas to ensure that the funds can be distributed throughout Ohio. This allows schools the option to purchase systems that best fit the needs of their specific school district. The criteria for the systems include:
The ability to contact law enforcement
The ability to initiate a campus-wide lockdown notification
The requirement that the system be developed in the United States
Has successfully been deployed in other schools or state organizations.
House Bill 106 awaits further consideration in the House Finance Committee.
Watch King’s full testimony here.
