New state requirements for anonymous reporting and more. Sandy Hook Promise is here to help.
New state requirements for anonymous reporting and more. Sandy Hook Promise is here to help.
In April 2025, Governor Brian Kemp signed Georgia House Bill (HB) 268, also known as “Ricky and Alyssa’s Law.” The law requires every Georgia school district to implement an anonymous reporting system and several other safety-related initiatives by the start of the 2026-2027 school year.
Sandy Hook Promise, a well-known and trusted partner to Georgia school districts, is helping districts across the state improve student safety and meet key requirements of this important new state law.
Section 2-15 of HB 268 includes the following requirements for Georgia school districts:
By July 1, 2026:
Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year:
In April 2025, Governor Brian Kemp signed Georgia House Bill (HB) 268, also known as “Ricky and Alyssa’s Law.” The law requires every Georgia school district to implement an anonymous reporting system and several other safety-related initiatives by the start of the 2026-2027 school year.
Sandy Hook Promise, a well-known and trusted partner to Georgia school districts, is helping districts across the state improve student safety and meet key requirements of this important new state law.
Section 2-15 of HB 268 includes the following requirements for Georgia school districts:
By July 1, 2026:
Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year:
Sandy Hook Promise programs are currently used in several Georgia School districts, including in Atlanta Public Schools since 2021.
The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System has been recognized by the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) as meeting the requirements of HB 268.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Sandy Hook Promise programs and services are often provided to schools and districts at no cost. Set up a meeting with your dedicated Georgia representative to discuss how we can help.
The Say Something ARS meets HB 268 requirements for the features of a district-wide anonymous reporting system:
Universal Accessibility
“(A) Be accessible by any person to report anonymously a dangerous, violent, threatening, harmful, or potentially harmful activity which occurs on, or is threatened to occur on, school property or which relates to a student or school personnel; “
24-7-365 Multilingual Support from Trained Counselors
“(B) Provide support 24 hours per day, seven days per week for anonymous reporting through, at a minimum, a mobile telephone application and a multilingual crisis center, which shall be staffed by individuals with evidence-based counseling and crisis intervention training; “
Immediate School Team Alerts
“(C) Promptly forward reported information to the appropriate school-based team; “
Inter-agency and Interdisciplinary Crisis Response
“(D) Support a coordinated response to an identified crisis by schools, local emergency 9-1-1 public safety answering points, and local law enforcement agencies when response by schools and law enforcement is to be reasonably expected;“
Educator and Staff Certification
“(E) Require and certify the training of school-based teams in each school to receive notice of any report submitted to the state-wide anonymous reporting program concerning the school, a student, or school personnel;”
Public Safety Training, and Certification
“(F) Require and certify the training of local emergency 9-1-1 public safety answering point personnel to receive notice of any report submitted to the state-wide anonymous reporting program that requires response from a local law enforcement agency;”
Public Awareness Resources
“(G) Promote public awareness and education about the state-wide anonymous reporting program and its reporting methods, prior to its launch; and
(H) Comply with all federal and state laws.”
The Say Something program meets HB 268 requirements for the content of student training on suicide awareness and prevention, and youth violence prevention:
Recognize Signs and Signals
“(A) How to recognize the observable signs and signals of depression, suicide, and self-injury in themselves and their peers;
(B) How to recognize the observable warning signs and signals of persons who may be at risk of harming themselves or others; “
Promote Help-seeking Behaviors
(C) The importance of seeking help for themselves and their peers and the process for seeking help; and
Report Concerns
(D) The steps that can be taken to report dangerous, violent, threatening, harmful, or potentially harmful behavior
SAVE Promise Club meets the following HB 268 requirements for student-led youth violence prevention clubs:
Universal Access
“(1) Be open to all members of the student body;”
Awareness Orientation
(2) Engage in awareness activities related to youth suicide prevention, youth violence prevention, and social inclusion;
Skill Building
(3) Foster opportunities for student leadership development; and
Adult Guidance
(4) Have at least one administrator, teacher, or other school personnel serve as a faculty advisor.”
Your dedicated Georgia representative is ready to assist your district with meeting the requirements of HB 268. Please fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch shortly!
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