Alabama lawmaker hopes to bring panic buttons to schools

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT) — One lawmaker wants to bring wearable panic buttons to Alabama schools.

A bill by state Rep. Alan Baker (R-Brewton) would require some faculty to wear rapid response buttons on a lanyard or badge. Baker said they could make the difference in a school emergency. He said teachers could reach law enforcement in a matter of seconds.

“It’s where, really, time equals lives,” Baker said. “So that’s very important to get that location as quickly as possible, so that’s really the intent with this technology.”

Whether a student breaks a bone or an intruder enters a school, Baker explained the system would benefit all schools.

“Schools need to be in constant pursuit of trying to find added measures that they can continue to do to try and keep the schools, the students, the faculty as safe as can be,” Baker said.

Baker said that measure would be required starting in 2030. State Rep. Patrick Sellers (D-Birmingham) said he agrees with the effort, but cost can be a concern for some lawmakers.

“Where the is the cost going to lie?” Sellers said. “Putting more added cost to school systems. Some school systems just don’t have those kinds of resources to implement them.”

Law enforcement officer and state Rep. Russell Bedsole (R-Alabaster) is also concerned about the cost of maintaining the system. He said each district should be able to decide what measures work best for them. But Baker said schools could use state and local dollars to pay for it, and about 25 in the state already have the system in place.

“There’s just a number of incidents that have already occurred across the nation in which it’s been proven that the rapid response system would maybe enhance or give the better opportunity for lives to be saved,” Baker said.

Chilton County Schools Superintendent Corey Clements said his staff looked into the systems independently last summer. He said most of its classrooms have emergency call buttons. He said if there was a funding mechanism from the state that went along with those devices, then the school system would support it.