Legislation sponsored by Assemblyman William Colton (D—Gravesend, Bensonhurst, Bath Beach and Dyker Heights) would mandate the installation of silent alarms in all school classrooms.

According to the legislation (A9290), the alarms – which would be designed to alert local law enforcement and school administrators discreetly that an emergency is occurring -- would be placed where teachers can easily get to them and activate them as needed, avoiding possible escalation of the emergency while still summoning help. The law would apply to all schools, public, charter and private, across New York State.

“Given the number of frightening incidents that have occurred in schools across the country over the past few decades, it only makes sense that all classrooms be equipped with silent alarms, installed where they can be easily reached by teachers in case of emergency,” said Assemblyman Colton. “Parents rightly expect their children to be safe when they are in school. This legislation would be one more step toward securing that. Ideally, these alarms would never be activated, but simply knowing that they are there could help reassure parents, educators and students that help is just a button-push away.”