MHPS Superintendent comments on proposed panic button legislation

A piece of legislation that would require every public school employee to wear a panic button device will be discussed in the Arknasas House of Representatives’ Education Committee Tuesday. House Bill 1492 is authored by Republican Representative Zack Gramlich of Fort Smith. The device would integrate with local Public Safety Answering Point infrastructure to transmit 911 calls and mobile activations and initiate a campus-wide lockdown notification.
Mountain Home Public Schools Superintendent Allyson Dewey says they have worked in recent years to make schools safer, but she is all for more safety features.

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The bill does not include funding, so, the big question is who is going to pay for the devices is this legislation passes.

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The bill ensures all security data with each school is accessible by any local law enforcement agency and each school coordinates with law enforcement to establish appropriate access protocols with respect to security data.

If passed, the new law would go into effect next school year.

House Bill 1492 can be viewed at https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=HB1492&chamber=House&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R
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