Gov. Hochul signs "Alyssa's Law" encouraging schools to install silent panic alarms
ALBANY, N.Y. -- Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a new bill into law Thursday that she says can help save lives in case of a school shooting.
"Alyssa's Law" is named after 14-year-old Alyssa Alhadeff, who was killed in the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida. She was born in Queens.
The law requires school districts to consider installing silent panic alarms that would alert police during an emergency.
"It's not a mandate, but I stand here today to ask all school districts to adopt this. Please, please consider this technology to protect your students and your staff and your administrators. It will save lives," Hochul said.
The governor said the silent alarms include a cellphone app used in Suffolk County that bypasses 911 and goes straight to law enforcement.