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The Public Schools Emergency Alert Act would provide parents, teachers, staff and elected officials in the city with real-time information during emergencies.

Information would be sent through e-mails, text messages, and automated phone calls.

Officials said it's important parents know what is going on.

"It could create a stressful situation for parents but also a dangerous situation if people don't know what to do in an emergency," said Queens Assemblyman Rory Lancman. "So with this system, people are going to know what's happening in real time and what they are supposed to do."

"Right now, there is a disconnection between the schools and the parents, and even the students at that point, regarding safety issues in the schools and that is critical information," said Queens Senator Joseph Addabbo. "That is critical information that I think our parents should have and the schools and the children should have. Now we're bridging that gap. We're creating a bridge where we can get that flow of information and with today's technology it's easy to do."

The legislation was inspired by the 2007 lockdown on the Glen Oaks Campus, which angered parents who say they didn't know what was going on.

As of late Friday, Governor David Paterson needed to sign the bill into law.