Governor Ron DeSantis with Ilan and Lori Alhadeff after signing “Alyssa’s Law” {Lori Alhadeff Twitter}
By: Sharon Aron Baron
After passing through the Florida House and Senate, Alyssa’s Law was signed 14 days after landing on the desk of Governor Ron DeSantis — just in the nick of time.
Gov DeSantis had 15 days to sign or veto the bill, which requires public schools to implement a mobile panic button system, referred to as “Alyssa’s Alert,” which links to local law enforcement for real-time coordination between multiple first responders.
The enhanced emergency system will reduce response times by law enforcement, fire departments, and emergency medical services to save children’s lives.
The bill was written by Parkland resident Lori Alhadeff and named after her daughter Alyssa Alhadeff, a victim of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas school shooting on February 14, 2018. Her mother, Lori Alhadeff, led the process with her nonprofit Make Our Schools Safe, generating thousands of petition signatures and paving the way toward school safety.
Alhadeff said, “.. the passage of Alyssa’s Law is of paramount importance to all students and teachers in the State of Florida. Alyssa’s legacy now lives on, as she is the heartbeat of this vital piece of legislation.”
Both Representatives Dan Daley District 97 and Michael Gottlieb of District 98 co-sponsored the bill in the House and Lauren Book sponsored it in the Senate.
Rep Dan Daley said that during tragedies like the one at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, every second matter – it is quite literally life or death. Now with the signing of this legislation and the full funding to support it, every school in Florida will be equipped with technology that will notify first responders in rapid time.
“This bill is one part of a larger effort to ensure that our schools are properly equipped to protect students during an active shooter situation,” said Rep. Daley.
I’m very proud to have sponsored this bill for Lori and Ilan Alhadeff, said Rep. Michael Gottlieb.
“Their tragedy has given way to a unique way of providing security to our children and teachers. Our first responders will benefit from this new technology as well. Today, the State of Florida is safer from their efforts and I am proud to help Make Our Schools Safe.”
During the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, milliseconds mattered – and the lack of real-time coordination between first responders likely cost precious lives said Senate co-sponsor Lauren Book, who added, after Lori Alhadeff’s daughter Alyssa was killed at MSD, Lori committed herself to memorializing Alyssa by protecting other children in ways her daughter was not.
“Thanks to Lori’s tireless advocacy, the creation of ‘Alyssa’s Alerts’ ensures children and educators across the state of Florida will be much safer in their classrooms. From one mother to another, I thank her for fighting for all of our children.”
This article has been updated.
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