Latest news with #HB234
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Alabama Senate committee approves bill requiring emergency buttons in public schools
Rep. Alan Baker, R-Brewton, clapping in the House Education Policy Committee on April 2, 2025, in the Alabama State House in Montgomery, Alabama. Baker's bill that would require public schools to install an emergency button and train its employees was unanimously approved by the Senate Education Policy Committee on April 9, 2025.(Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector) 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.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 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. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Higher security, higher costs: Panic buttons in schools
MADISON, Ala. (WHNT) — With school shootings happening nationwide, there are continued calls on lawmakers to raise security and safety. The latest idea in Alabama: panic buttons. 'It's where, really, time equals lives,' Rep. Alan Baker (R-Brewton) said. 'So that's very important to get that location as quickly as possible, so that's really the intent with this technology.' 📲 to stay updated on the go. 📧 to have news sent to your inbox. That reality is why Baker proposed HB 234, a bill that would require school employees to wear a form of a panic button, whether it is on a lanyard or ID badge. It is a practice already being used in Madison City Schools. 'Every employee has this alarm button,' Madison City Schools Superintendent Dr. Ed Nichols said. 'If they press it three times, it alerts the principal, assistant principal, and the nurse that there's an issue. And it will tell them on their phone app or their desk where that issue is. If they press it multiple times, it will lock the school down.' The buttons can be used for a variety of reasons, whether a weapon is detected on campus or a student is having a medical emergency. The latter being something Nichols said has been especially useful during the past two years using the system. 'It has been used a lot for seizures or a student that passes out or are those types of things,' Nichols said. 'So, you know, we feel like it's been a tremendous asset.' But extra security comes at a cost. The school district pays roughly $100,000 a year for the system, a cost that could be a burden on smaller, rural schools. 'To require a school district to spend that money every year, the state needs to find that money,' Nichols said. 'And they need to fund some type of alert system if that's what they want to put in the bill.' The current bill does not include a funding method, but Baker said local and state funds will be available to help. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
