Gov. Phil Murphy has conditionally vetoed a bill that would have installed silent panic alarms inside of every school in the state.

Murphy said that “Alyssa’s Law” would save lives, but he told legislators to change its funding mechanism. The governor is recommending legislators seek funding for the panic button program through the "Secure Our Children's Future" bond act that will be put to voters in November.

Silent alarms linked to law enforcement departments would be placed inside of schools. There would also be a red emergency light that lights up outside the school or on the nearest public road indicating an emergency.

But police union president Pat Colligan says that the alarms may not be necessary inside of the schools.

“If the hundreds and hundreds of kids or teachers call 911, we’ll be there quicker than any panic alarm can get us there,” he says. 

Colligan says that schools should turn to armed and retired police officers to protect schools, as state law allows.

“Ironically there’s a little shortage of [these types of officers] right now…but we’ll get that fixed through this school year and get more implemented next year,” Colligan says.

The bill is named for 14-year-old former Woodcliff Lake resident Alyssa Alhadeff, who was one of 17 people shot and killed in a school shooting in Parkland, Florida, in February.