Alyssa's Law (H.B. 84) in Utah: Mandated Next Steps for Schools Throughout the State
In 2025, schools across Utah are gearing up to transform their safety and security measures in a big way! This ambitious initiative began after H.B. 84, better known as Alyssa’s Law, went into effect on March 12, 2024, setting the stage for a new era in school safety throughout the state. As the sixth state to adopt Alyssa’s Law, Utah’s legislation offers insight into what schools in other states considering the same legislation could expect and models a proven workflow for schools or businesses looking to incorporate similar incident management protocols proactively.
Developing Comprehensive Incident Management Plans in 2025 Based on 2024 Safety Assessments
Under H.B. 84, all K-12 public, private and charter schools spent the latter half of 2024 completing detailed safety assessments, with findings due by December 31, 2024. These assessments were a crucial first step and laid the groundwork for meaningful school safety improvements in 2025.
With evaluations now in hand, schools and Local Education Agencies (LEAs) will begin taking what they’ve learned and creating Comprehensive Safety Plans (CSPs). These plans will focus on strengthening incident management, implementing effective training protocols and establishing robust reporting systems to ensure a cohesive and well-prepared approach to school safety.
Incident Management Plans
Local Education Agencies (LEAs) must now use their findings to develop and refine incident management policies that address various issues, including bullying, cyberbullying, hazing, abusive conduct, and retaliation. Each policy must clearly define these types of incidents, prohibit such behaviors, establish protocols for handling each incident and outline consequences for violations, including the misuse of incident recordings.
To ensure transparency, officials must collaborate with key stakeholders—including students, parents, educators, and law enforcement—to create these detailed action plans. LEAs must also implement a comprehensive parental notification process to keep families informed and supported during incidents. All employees, students, and parents will be required to review and sign off on the documented policies annually. These efforts highlight the severity of the state’s commitment to maintaining accountability and ensuring widespread understanding.
Reporting and Early Warning Systems
Clear reporting structures and effective risk management systems are essential for maintaining a safe learning environment and minimizing potential threats. As mandated by H.B. 84, Local Education Agencies (LEAs) are now required to implement an Early Warning System (EWS), which is an online tool that integrates data from Student Information Management Systems (SIMS) to monitor key risk indicators such as attendance, behavior and academic performance. The data collected is part of an effort to enhance proactive risk assessments and management, enabling the appropriate school officials to intervene before incidents occur. Furthermore, any significant threats against schools are now legally required to be reported immediately to law enforcement or designated authorities, ensuring prompt action. To maintain transparency regarding data collection and its intended use, schools must inform parents if surveys are conducted as part of the EWS.
Emergency Response Training and Education Plans
H.B. 84 recognizes the importance of incident training in establishing an effective incident management system. It mandates that all training plans must be thorough and practical, addressing how to use safety technologies, communication protocols and emergency procedures to ensure everyone in the school community is prepared. By reinforcing skills and procedures through regular training, schools can minimize the risk of confusion or inaction during actual incidents.
Local Education Agencies (LEAs) are also now required to appoint an individual responsible for overseeing incident response, providing training for school employees and monitoring the implementation of safety policies. This individual will serve as the liaison between the LEA and state authorities, ensuring compliance with all safety standards.
Mandated Safety Technology: Panic Buttons, Video Surveillance and More
Under H.B. 84, schools must meet minimum safety technology standards. The mandated tools are crucial for reducing response times, increasing positive outcomes and ensuring that schools can effectively handle any incident.
To comply with the updated requirements for emergency communication systems, schools must install repeaters to enhance radio signals for first responders throughout the facility. Additionally, lead teachers must be equipped with wearable panic buttons to quickly alert emergency responders and school security personnel during an incident.
To strengthen their physical security, schools must install ballistic windows on all ground-level windows, internal locks, perimeter fencing to prevent unauthorized access and a video surveillance system with cameras strategically placed in high-traffic areas inside and outside the building. All cameras must be accessible by a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).
While these requirements establish a foundational standard for compliance, they represent only the first step toward creating a safe and responsive educational environment.
Additional Safety Technology That Could Address Additional Needs and Significantly Impact Outcomes
While the mandated measures mark a significant leap forward, many schools have likely uncovered additional needs during their assessments. 911Cellular stands ready to provide innovative solutions that enable schools to address their unique challenges and concerns, ensuring a safer and more effective learning environment for all.
- Wall Mounted and Keyboard Panic Buttons: These devices are an excellent addition to Wearable Panic Button usage. These devices expand reporting capabilities, allowing substitute teachers, visitors, and students to trigger alerts during emergencies quickly. Multiple activation options ensure responses to critical incidents are fast and efficient.
- Mobile Safety Apps: These apps provide additional features that are unavailable in standard duress buttons, enhancing school safety and streamlining emergency communication. Users can anonymously report threats or suspicious behavior, mark themselves safe during an emergency, directly communicate with emergency responders, and receive location-based alerts for precise situational awareness.
- Portal: The 911Cellular portal is a unified platform for school security staff and 911 response centers to manage incidents collaboratively. It offers extensive configuration options to tailor the system to a school’s unique needs. It can even integrate live camera feeds from the school’s video security system and computers with webcams for immediate visual insight into impacted areas.
- Emergency Notification Systems: Our system works seamlessly with duress buttons, allowing school officials to create automated communication workflows that ensure your community receives timely notifications during emergencies. By reducing the need for manual intervention, this system can improve response times and outcomes.
- Spark Alert Relay: This system provides instant protocol activation, deploying safety measures like alarms, lockdowns and PA announcements when a panic button is pressed. It supports seamless third-party integration to help enhance existing systems and features a simple setup for quick implementation. Spark ensures efficient emergency management and safeguards school communities.
Looking Ahead
H.B. 84 (2024) marks a significant step forward in enhancing school safety. Its comprehensive requirements and emphasis on technologies, such as wearable panic buttons, empower Utah schools to tackle the evolving and intricate challenges faced by educators nationwide. Additionally, it serves as a model for other states considering the implementation of Alyssa’s Law or for institutions seeking to improve their security measures.
A brighter future starts today. By collaborating with 911Cellular, schools can not only meet but exceed legislative expectations, fostering an environment where students and teachers can thrive in learning and personal development.
Don’t just comply—thrive with 911Cellular.
