Moseley’s school safety legislation moves to Senate for consideration

INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana House members passed legislation co-authored by Representative Chuck Moseley (D-Portage) that would increase school safety by installing an active event warning system. The system is primarily designed to ensure rapid response in the event of a 911 emergency, such as an active shooter or similar emergencies taking place in any school building within all school districts.

House Bill 1225 would allow school corporations and charter schools to apply for grant funding from the Indiana Secured School Fund to help cover initial set up costs for an active event warning system, which is modeled after a system currently used throughout Porter County.

With the press of a button, the application immediately notifies first responders in the area that there is an emergency. Having the alert reach mass members of first responders and avoid the 911 emergency process allows for more efficient response times. In fact, first responders have reported response times of under one minute while utilizing the system.

Responses are not only quicker but more accurate. Once the system is activated, security camera footage can be accessed from each building on campus to identify the location of an offender and provides vital information about their identity.

“We can all agree that if there is an active shooter in one of our schools, time is of the essence,” Moseley said. “This application is proven to be effective in helping first responders get an emergency alert, respond, and identify the threat more quickly. This application is a no-brainer for our schools in the event of a shooting or any other emergency situation.”

In Porter County, nearly 100 buildings are covered by the active event warning system - including all school corporation buildings, YMCAs, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, private industries, and churches. The cost to set up the active event warning system in Porter County was approximately $80,000. The balance of the Indiana Secured School Fund at the end of 2018 was $9.9 million.

House Bill 1225 will now move to the Indiana Senate for consideration.