ORLANDO, Fla. – In a bid to bolster public safety, Florida lawmakers are contemplating a new legislative measure designed to enhance the speed and efficacy of real-time alerts during active threats.
The proposed legislation, known as the “Ya Ya Alert Act” and spearheaded by Representative Rashon Young, seeks to establish a mandatory alert system. This system would compel law enforcement agencies to disseminate notifications whenever a serious threat looms within a three-mile radius of schools, childcare centers, and registered recipients.
Rep. Young underscores the critical nature of this proposal, noting, “In situations of imminent threats, seconds matter.” His comments highlight the essential need for swift communication when danger lurks nearby.
Should SB 814 be passed, the alert system would be activated under various scenarios, such as when a suspect is at large, a homicide has taken place, or authorities have identified a credible threat to public safety. The primary objective is to ensure that educational institutions, parents, and community members are promptly informed, enabling them to take necessary precautions.
This legislative effort emerges amidst ongoing national challenges with high-profile violent incidents, including the recent tragic mass shooting at Brown University.
The legislation comes as the nation continues to grapple with high-profile acts of violence, including recent mass shooting at Brown University.
Young said the bill is part of a broader effort to address violence and restore a sense of safety in communities. “We are chiseling away at this greater boulder of violence and taking back the responsibility to maintain security in our neighborhoods,” he said. “It starts with legislation like this.”
The Ya Ya Alert Act is named in honor of 9-year-old T’yonna Major, one of three people killed in a 2023 Pine Hills shooting. According to Young, when Major’s mother picked her up from school that day, the suspect was still at large, and no alert system was in place to warn families of the ongoing danger.
“This cannot stop at extending condolences,” Young said. “There has to be action.”
He says the bill prioritizes the health and well-being of children by ensuring safeguards are in place before violence reaches schools or childcare centers.
Young also told News 6 that the bill has received quite a bit of bipartisan support.
If it moves through the legislature without objection, the Ya Ya Alert Act could take effect in late 2026.
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