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HF4571

Schools required to implement a wearable panic alert system, and money appropriated.
Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026)

Related bill: SF4630

AI Generated Summary

Purpose

  • Establish a statewide safety measure requiring wearable panic alert systems in Minnesota schools, starting in the 2026-2027 school year, to improve rapid communication with emergency responders and enable campus lockdowns.
  • Provide funding to reimburse schools for the costs of implementing these systems.
  • Name the measure as Alyssa's Law for citation purposes.

Main Provisions

  • Definitions
    • School: includes independent or special school districts, charter schools, and certain nonpublic schools.
    • School facility: any building or location where students and staff are present during the school day.
    • The section is cited as Alyssas Law.
  • Panic alert system requirements
    • Each school facility must have a wearable panic alert system capable of:
    • Integrating with local public safety answering point (PSAP) infrastructure to transmit 911 calls and mobile activations.
    • Initiating a campus-wide lockdown notification.
    • Every staff member in a school facility must be provided with a wearable panic alert device that allows immediate contact with local emergency response agencies.
  • Training and protocols
    • Before the first day of each school year, schools must train all facility personnel on the panic alert protocol and proper use of the device.
  • Security information management
    • Security information within the school (including camera maps and access control information) must be accessible to the local law enforcement agency to the extent allowed by law (Chapter 13).
    • Schools must work with local law enforcement to establish appropriate access protocols for this information.
    • Schools retain ownership of security information and any information generated by the panic alert system.
  • Legal reference
    • Section 1 is part of Minnesota Statutes, chapter 121A.

Implementation Timeline and Oversight

  • Effective implementation begins with the 2026-2027 school year.
  • The measure involves coordination between each school and local law enforcement, and it is codified in Minnesota Statutes (amending or adding 121A.09).

Funding and Fiscal Impact

  • Appropriations
    • General fund money is set aside to reimburse schools for the costs of implementing the panic alert system requirements.
    • Reimbursements are administered by the Department of Education, in a form and manner determined by the commissioner.
    • This is a one-time appropriation and remains available until June 30, 2028.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • Creates a new mandate requiring wearable panic alert systems in every school facility and devices for all staff.
  • Requires integration with PSAP infrastructure and triggers campus lockdown capabilities.
  • Requires annual staff training on panic alert protocols.
  • Establishes a framework for sharing security information with local law enforcement and sets ownership and access protocols.
  • Opens a dedicated, one-time funding mechanism to reimburse districts for these costs.

Relevant Terms - Alyssas Law - wearable panic alert system - panic alert device - 911 calls - local public safety answering point (PSAP) - campus-wide lockdown notification - school facility - school - independent or special school district - charter school - nonpublic school - camera map - access control information - local law enforcement agency - Chapter 13 (Minnesota Statutes) - Minnesota Statutes section 121A.09 - Department of Education - general fund - appropriation - one-time appropriation - June 30, 2028 - 2026-2027 school year - security information ownership

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 23, 2026HouseActionIntroduction and first reading, referred toEducation Policy

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Establishes a new panic alert system requirement for schools within Chapter 121A."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill references Minnesota Statutes chapter 121A as the host chapter for the proposed Panic Alert System provisions. This is a new section within that chapter created by the bill, not an amendment to an existing statute text outside the new section.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "121A",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill uses chapter 124E to define eligible school entities (charter schools) within the term 'School.' This is a definitional reference to an existing statute.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "124E",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill references Minnesota Statutes section 123B.41, subdivision 9 to define 'nonpublic school' for purposes of the definitions. No changes to 123B.41 are enacted by this bill.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "123B.41",
    "subdivision": "9"
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "The bill references Minnesota Statutes chapter 13 (data practices) with respect to access to security information. No modifications to Chapter 13 are proposed by the bill.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "13",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

Progress through the legislative process

17%
In Committee

Sponsors

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