Olsen proposes panic alarms for schools
Bill looks to enhance student safety and emergency response on campus
SACRAMENTO –– Today, Assemblymember Kristin Olsen (R-Modesto) introduced
Assembly Bill 1076 to equip every regularly used classroom and other
widely used school campus spaces with panic buttons that instantly alert
law enforcement in the event of a campus emergency.
“There is no question that we all have a heightened sense of school
safety inadequacies right now,” said Olsen, “and it’s important that we
move to implement measures that will address the ability of schools and
administrators to respond quickly in the event of an emergency.
Installing panic alarms will alert others on campus and shorten the
response time for emergency personnel, especially on large campuses.”
When a panic button is pressed, a direct link would dispatch law
enforcement and alarms would sound, alerting others on the school campus
of an emergency – all in one quick step.
Schools are currently required to adopt an integrated school safety plan
and distribute it widely to local officials and first responders. AB
1076 would revise Education Code Sec. 32280 to include panic alarms as
part of the integrated school safety plan.
“We must take action to give schools the proper resources to act when
faced with life-threatening situations,” said Olsen. “AB 1076 will help
create a safer environment for students, teachers and administrators on
school campuses.”
Olsen is also principal co-author of Senator Ted Lieu’s Senate Bill 49,
which requires schools to have and be in compliance with an updated
schools safety plan.
Olsen will also be working with her Education Advisory Council to
develop a comprehensive school safety package that will address issues
related to mental health, safety personnel, and security systems. The
package will be introduced in the next legislative session.
