SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Michael E. Hastings is building on previous school safety legislation by passing a law that will provide schools with modern tools to quickly alert first responders in the event of a crisis.
“Illinois must continue to be proactive when it comes to the safety of our children,” said Hastings (D-Frankfort). “I am happy to see my colleagues on both sides of the aisle come together to protect our children when we drop them off at school for the day.”
House Bill 5107 will require school districts and private schools to consider the use of a mobile panic alert system in the development of their school emergency and crisis response plans by the beginning of the 2028-2029 school year.
Mobile panic alert systems, sometimes known as Alyssa’s Alert, allow school staff to instantly communicate emergencies to first responders, enabling faster response times and better coordination across agencies. The law will also emphasize compatibility with 911 infrastructure to ensure alerts reach the proper emergency channels without delay.
The use of Alyssa’s Alert has been championed across the country by Centegix and Make Our Schools Safe. Centegix is a mobile panic alert system provider that collaborates with Make our Schools Safe, a national non-profit organization dedicated to protecting students and teachers at schools. The foundation collaborates with high-level security advisors to provide survival information for better protection in emergency situations and focuses on bringing those skills to schools with the intent of making teachers and students feel more confident in emergency situations.
Hastings noted that while the law will encourage adoption of these systems, it will also prioritize equitable access, ensuring schools of all sizes and resources can implement tools that enhance student safety.
House Bill 5107 was signed into law Friday and takes effect Jan. 1.
