- Bill: SB 17
- Read the Full Legislation
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Georgia’s Ricky and Alyssa’s Law requires all K-12 school systems to implement two systems:
Mobile Panic Alert System (“Alyssa’s Alert”)
School Mapping Data
What Is Ricky and Alyssa’s Law in Georgia?
Georgia’s version of Alyssa’s Law is named after two significant individuals. Alyssa Alhadeff was a 14-year-old student killed in the February 14, 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Richard “Ricky” Aspinwall was a coach and one of four victims killed in the September 4, 2024 shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. Their families both became advocates for the kind of legislation that could have made a difference in those moments.
Governor Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 17 on April 9, 2025. The bill cleared the Senate unanimously and was developed with input from law enforcement officials who responded to the Apalachee shooting. The law took effect July 1, 2025, with a full compliance deadline of July 1, 2026.
All K-12 school systems in Georgia must comply, including private schools.
Georgia’s Ricky and Alyssa’s Law is one of the most detailed and technically demanding versions of Alyssa’s Law enacted in any state. It requires two distinct systems. A mobile panic alert system and a school mapping data program are needed, each with specific technical standards.
The mobile panic alert system (referred to in the law as “Alyssa’s Alert”) must connect disparate emergency services technologies. This is so that real-time coordination can happen between multiple local and state first responder agencies. It must further integrate with Next Generation 9-1-1 technology and link directly to public safety answering points. It also has to utilize school mapping data, giving first responders precise location information the moment an alert is triggered.
The school mapping data requirement goes further than any other state’s version of Alyssa’s Law. Schools must procure comprehensive digital building data that includes interior room layouts, access points, critical utility locations, emergency equipment locations, and aerial imagery of the surrounding area. That data needs to be shared in formats compatible with public safety software platforms, verified for accuracy annually, and made available to emergency responders. The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency is responsible for establishing the specific rules and regulations governing the mapping data requirements.
Apalachee High School had a panic button alert system in place when the shooting occurred on September 4, 2024. It had been installed just one week earlier. Teachers activated it immediately. Law enforcement received 26 silent alerts, and the suspect was in custody within ten minutes. That incident is part of why SB 17 passed unanimously and why Georgia’s version of the law is more detailed than most.
As with other states’ versions of Alyssa’s Law, mobile panic alert systems are additions to a school’s safety infrastructure. They are not replacements for existing classroom phones, intercoms, or other established communication devices.
Alyssa’s Law has now passed in many states. This includes New Jersey (2019), Florida (2020), New York (2022), Texas and Tennessee (2023), Utah and Oklahoma (2024), Georgia, Washington, and Oregon (2025), and Virginia and West Virginia (2026). As of early 2026, more than 18 additional states are actively considering legislation.
Georgia’s version is among the most advanced in the country. The combination of a mandatory mobile panic alert system with Next Generation 9-1-1 integration, direct PSAP connectivity, and a separate school mapping data mandate puts Georgia at the prescriptive end of the spectrum (alongside Florida and Utah).
Georgia’s dual-system requirement underscores how effective emergency response depends both on notification speed and on the quality of information first responders receive the moment they are notified.
Georgia has made school safety funding available to help districts address Ricky and Alyssa’s Law compliance needs. Schools may be able to use these resources for panic alert systems, school mapping, and related safety upgrades.
The Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency administers school safety resources and grant opportunities that may help support compliance planning and implementation. Districts should review current eligibility rules, award amounts, and application timelines directly with GEMA before applying.
Districts should contact the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA) to confirm eligibility requirements and current application windows.
The BJA STOP School Violence Program provides funding to prevent and reduce school violence. It awards up to $2 million for state governments and public institutions, and up to $1 million for independent school districts, nonprofits, and public charter schools. Allowable expenses include threat assessment teams, anonymous reporting tools, and school safety technology. This makes it a strong fit for districts building out a comprehensive compliance plan. Application cycles open annually, typically in late summer or fall. Districts should monitor BJA’s funding opportunities page for the FY26 announcement.
The July 1, 2026 compliance deadline is approaching. Districts that haven’t yet applied for available funding should treat this as an immediate priority.
Punch Rescue provides resilient hardware and software designed to work when it matters most. For Georgia schools, that means an emergency communication system that satisfies SB 17’s requirements for real-time first responder connectivity, precise location data, and coordinated mass notification. It remains functional and reliable when app-based solutions fail, too.
The Rescue Card is a wearable panic button worn by teachers and staff. When pressed, it silently triggers an emergency alert. There’s no phone required. Rescue Repeaters extend signal coverage across a campus. This covers classrooms, gymnasiums, portable buildings, and outdoor areas where WiFi dead zones are common. The Rescue Base Station anchors the system’s communication infrastructure, with approximately six hours of battery backup to maintain operation during power disruptions.
Punch Rescue integrates with RapidSOS, a platform that connects activated panic button alerts directly to 911 and public safety agencies. The moment a Rescue Card is pressed, RapidSOS transmits real-time incident data (including location and alert type) to the appropriate dispatch center. This directly addresses SB 17’s requirement that Alyssa’s Alert integrate with Next Generation 9-1-1 technology and connect directly to public safety answering points (PSAPs).
Punch Rescue integrates with Mappedin to embed dynamic indoor facility maps directly within the response dashboard. When an alert is triggered, first responders receive accurate, room-level location data. This supports SB 17’s requirement that the mobile panic alert system utilize school mapping data. It gives law enforcement the precise location information the law was designed to deliver.
Punch Rescue integrates with Lightspeed Notify for emergency communication coordination, automated response plan distribution, and mass notifications. When an incident occurs, administrators, staff, and first responders receive the right information automatically. There are no manual steps required during a moment of crisis. This addresses SB 17’s requirement for real-time coordination between multiple state and local first responder agencies.
Note: The details of any technology’s implementation in Georgia may be guided by GEMA/HS rules.
What Does This Mean for Your District?
Georgia’s law is detailed, and the July 1, 2026 deadline is not far off. When evaluating systems, you need to ask:
Punch Rescue is built to answer yes to all of the above. It’s also highly customizable to meet unique school district needs and specifications.
Georgia’s Ricky and Alyssa’s Law is one of the most technically demanding versions enacted anywhere in the country.
Most panic buttons leave you guessing about device status, battery life, and system health. Punch Rescue provides real-time visibility across your entire infrastructure, so you know your school is ready when it matters most.
