SB 434 West Virginia Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Requiring WV Board of Education to implement wearable panic alert system in public schools

This bill requires West Virginia public schools to implement wearable panic alert systems for all school employees by December 2025. It mandates that each employee receives a device enabling immediate emergency contact and campus-wide lockdown notifications, with annual training required before each school year. The law also requires county school boards to share security data (like camera feeds and facility maps) with local law enforcement and establish access protocols. The system must integrate with 9-1-1 services, directly affecting school staff, administrators, and local emergency responders.

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 13, 2025 Last action Feb 26, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Version → Committee Substitute · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was substantially rewritten to shift from requiring physical panic alarms in school buildings to mandating wearable panic alert devices for all school employees. The new version also requires annual training on device use and ensures security data is accessible to law enforcement. This represents a significant change in approach from infrastructure-based security to personnel-based alert systems.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from requiring panic alarms in buildings to requiring wearable devices for all employees assigned to public school facilities, with additional requirements for training and security data access.

REQUIREMENT

Changed from requiring physical panic alarms in school buildings to requiring wearable panic alert devices for all school employees

Added requirement for annual training on panic alert device protocol and appropriate use

Added requirement that security data including cameras, maps, and access control be accessible to local law enforcement

TIMELINE

Added specific deadline of December 31, 2025 for the Board of Education to promulgate implementing rules

DEFINITION

Removed detailed definitions of panic alarm and public school building; replaced with focus on wearable alert system capabilities

ENFORCEMENT

Added requirement for county boards to coordinate with law enforcement to establish appropriate access protocols for security data

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 26, 2025

Committee

To Finance

upper

Feb 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

Committee substitute reported, but first to Finance

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

To Education

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Introduced

Introduced in Senate

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

To Education then Finance

upper

1 primary · 5 co-sponsors