LINCOLN, Neb. (KMTV) - — A Nebraska state senator wants schools to receive notifications quicker in the event of an emergency situation.
Senator Tony Vargas introduced Legislative Bill 1156 to the Education Committee on Tuesday.
The bill would implement a state-wide school panic button program that would be available to all K-12 public school districts.
The bill requires the Department of Education to develop a statewide program and assume all costs for districts that choose to participate.
In order to be eligible for the contract, a technology provider must meet minimum standards laid out by the bill.
Senator Vargas tells 3 News Now the bill would appropriate $2 million to the Department of Education to implement the program.
He says, when it comes to school safety, time equals life.
"If we're not reducing response time [and] making sure communication between law enforcement and 911 is as quick as possible ... and, people are also notified in schools, we're making it much more difficult [for] the potential [to] save life,” Senator Tony Vargas said.
Teachers and staff would have access to the panic button through and app on smartphones.
"Communication is key and time is of the essence,” Vargas said.
Adam Eisenman is the Director of Government Affairs for Rave Mobile Safety.
He spoke in favor of LB 1156.
"Every second loss to the confusion and chaos of the moment can increase the number of fatalities the community must cope with and the aftermath,” he said.
Eisenman also says, it’s about more than potential school shootings.
"From medical emergencies and assaults, to fires and other crimes it is important to implement a system that can effectively respond to incidents of all kinds,” Eisenman said.
The Nebraska State Education Association took a neutral stand on the bill.
"We believe that a panic button app could be a tremendous tool for educators however before NSCA could give full support we would need to know that implementation in each district would be standardized so as not to cause unintended negative results," Executive Director Maddie Fennell said.
Fennell says requiring teachers to download an app on their personal phones is an issue.
"There are some serious liability concerns for teachers even if the school district provides a device with an app (some do provide a district-owned iPad), which could result in disciplinary action being taken, job security issues and/or members being sued,” Fennell said.
Opponents like the Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Daniel Schleusener don’t like the idea of the service being streamlined across the state.
"The only thing worse than no state-wide school system panic button program (and heaven forbid an active shooter event), is a program that spends $2 million and has low acceptance across the state,” Schleusener said.
He also says, communication doesn’t start the day of an event.
During his opposition speech, Schleusener said there should be regular communication, coordination and training between schools, law enforcement and first responders.
"We would like to see more of a grant system,” he said. “Which would be based on a per pupil per for school district to ensure equitable funding, and allow these localities that already have proven and established relationships determine what fits best for them."
But Senator Vargas says the program could be a game-changer.
"I believe that every single teacher, every single parent, every single student wants something that enables them to have quicker response communication across their schools because what's more important than school safety."
Senator Vargas tells 3 News Now, the mother of a Parkland School shooting victim will visit Nebraska next week to speak with members of the education committee, in hopes of pushing the bill through.
