New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed A764, also known as “Alyssa’s Law”, requiring all New Jersey public schools to install silent panic alarms that will alert law enforcement during emergencies such as an active shooter, or to employ an alternative emergency mechanism approved by the Department of Education.
“Alyssa’s Law” will become a state requirement for all public elementary and secondary schools. The law is in memory of Alyssa Alhadeff, a New Jersey native from Woodcliff Lake who was among the 17 people that were killed in the Parkland shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last February.
“Alyssa’s death is a stark reminder of the dangers of gun violence and the need for adequate school security measures,” said Governor Murphy. “In New Jersey, we will do everything in our power to prevent these tragedies from occurring within our borders.”
Sponsors of the bill include Assembly members Ralph Caputo, Cleopatra Tucker, Anette Quijano, Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Shavonda Sumter, and Angela McKnight, and Senators Ronald Rice and Teresa Ruiz.
"On February 14th, 2018, 17 people were brutally murdered at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida including our 14-year-old daughter Alyssa,” said Ilan and Lori Alhadeff, parents of Alyssa Alhadeff. “As former residents of NJ, we are honored that Assemblymen Holley and Caputo, Mayor Carlos Rendo of Woodcliff Lake, Lisa Yakomin, and the NJ voters took action to make schools safe in NJ on behalf of our daughter Alyssa. Our hearts are overwhelmed to know our daughter's death is making national changes for school safety and hopefully other states will follow suit. It is with great pleasure to join Governor Murphy to witness this bill signing and we know that Alyssa is watching from above.”