All New Jersey school districts are required to demonstrate compliance with Alyssa’s Law using the NJDOE EWEG SYSTEM Homeroom application regardless of whether they intend to apply for a school security grant authorized by the Securing Our Children’s Future Bond Act, P.L. 2018, c. 119 (Bond Act).

ALYSSA’S LAW COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 21, 2020

ALYSSA’S LAW COMPLIANCE INFORMATION:
Alyssa’s Law defines a “panic alarm” as a silent security system signal generated by the manual activation of a device intended to signal a life-threatening or emergency situation requiring a response from law enforcement. The law states that each public elementary and secondary school building in New Jersey shall be equipped with at least one panic alarm that is directly linked to local law enforcement authorities. Further, the law requires that the panic alarm adhere to nationally recognized industry standards, including those of the National Fire Protection Association and Underwriters Laboratories, and installed by a licensed alarm system installer.

In December 2019, the NJSDA adopted regulations addressing Procedures for Compliance with Alyssa’s Law and, in collaboration with NJDOE, issued Preliminary Guidance on Alyssa’s Law Compliance and School Security Grants. Districts should review NJSDA’s regulations and the preliminary guidance for information on compliant systems as they complete the online application.

The compliance application will be preloaded with the schools in each district and will walk districts through the information and supporting documentation necessary to achieve a certification of compliance for each school building. Districts will be notified through the EWEG system of NJSDA’s certification of compliance, requests for further supporting information, or denial of certification.

SCHOOL SECURITY GRANT ELIGIBILITY:
To be eligible for a school security grant under the Bond Act, districts must first demonstrate Alyssa’s Law compliance or provide a proposed plan for Alyssa’s Law compliance for each school building in the district. Districts should therefore begin work on the Alyssa’s Law compliance application as soon as possible and obtain a certification of compliance or approval of planned work to comply with Alyssa’s Law before applying for a Bond Act grant. The application for Bond Act grants is anticipated for release in May 2020.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Questions related to Alyssa’s Law Compliance should be directed to AlyssasLaw@njsda.gov.

Questions related to Bond Act grant funding should be directed to SecurityGrant@doe.nj.gov.