Governor Signs Legislation that Appropriates Over $5M to Bolster School Security

On Jan. 12, Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation (2020:A-6258 /S-4309) that appropriates $5,150,531 from the “Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act” to provide grants for school security projects in New Jersey school districts.

The funding will be allocated to the installation of silent panic alarms to alert law enforcement during an emergency as required by Alyssa’s Law, as well as other school security upgrades, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

“The safety and well-being of students and educators across our state is one of our top priorities. By investing in school security, we are also investing in healthy and safe learning environments,” Murphy said. “This funding will help many schools make necessary security enhancements to their facilities.”

Primary sponsors of the legislation include Assembly members Roy Freiman, Angela V. McKnight, and Joe Danielsen, and Sen. Paul A. Sarlo.

“Equipping our schools with panic alarms will help first responders come to the aid of students and staff more quickly in the event of an emergency,” said Freiman, McKnight, and Danielsen in a joint statement. “It’s sad that measures such as this are necessary. However, in these troubling times this is a prudent action to protect the well-being of our children.”

“This is an investment in the safety of schoolchildren and educators in schools across the state,” Sarlo said. “The ‘panic alarms’ provide a level of silent security that we hope is never needed but is always there. State funds will allow schools to install the system.”

The following districts will receive grant funding: