On Dec. 1, 2013, Kari Hunt was stabbed 29 times by her husband in a Texas motel room while their three children were present. Kari’s nine-year-old daughter dialed 911 four times from the motel room phone but the calls never went through because the motel’s phone system required users to press “9” before dialing outside lines. Kari ultimately died that night, and coroners estimate she lived for 25-30 minutes after the attack. 

On Feb. 16, 2018, Kari's Law was signed into legislation, ensuring anyone can reach a 911 call center directly without an access code. Six weeks later, RAY BAUM's Act went into law, requiring enterprises to fashion their phone systems so each 911 call includes a dispatchable location.

Mark Fletcher, the key author and proponent of Kari's Law and vice president of public safety solutions for 911inform, spoke with Campus Safety about the laws' requirements and the high costs of non-compliance.

Fletcher also shares:

• More on the process of getting Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act through the legislature with the Hunt family (01:35)
• Three instances where Kari’s Law and RAY BAUM’s Act helped save lives (10:53)
• Who tracks whether an establishment is compliant and who within a school campus is typically involved in ensuring phone systems are compliant (13:52)

CAMPUS SAFETY SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/campussafetymagazine
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CampusSafetyMag
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/campussafetymag
• LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1836305/
• YouTube:  @campussafetymagazine  

CAMPUS SAFETY SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

• Facebook: https://facebook.com/CampusSafetyMagazine
• X: https://x.com/CampusSafetyMag
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CampusSafetyMag
• LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1836305
• YouTube: @Campussafetymagazine