After 15-year-old Lulu Gribbin survived a life-threatening shark attack last summer, she has gone on to inspire legislative action at the state level for a shark alert system along Alabama's beaches.

On April 17, the Alabama House of Representatives passed House Bill 437, A.K.A. Lulu's Law, or the Lulu Gribbin Shark Alert System Act. The system will send an alert to emergency management teams and individuals when confirmed shark attacks occur within a "close proximity to a shoreline or coastline."

Gribbin, from Mountain Brook, was on vacation off the coast of Florida last June with a group of friends. As she was searching for sand dollars, she heard one of her friends scream, "Shark!" Gribbin was not able to escape it.

"First, the shark bit off my left hand and a portion of my leg, which was later amputated," Gribbin said in a speech at the House when the bill was passed. "The next morning, I woke up intubated. I could not breathe or speak on my own. The morning after, I was extubated, and the first words I said were, 'I made it.'"

Gribbin said another shark attack was reported "a few miles down the beach" just 90 minutes before she was attacked. The alert system is triggered by a confirmed shark attack, which could have possibly prevented Gribbin from being attacked. She said this bill will help prevent future shark attacks by allowing "us to fight for the safety of our environment."

"I chose to fight. I chose to do it for the people who didn't make it and for the people who never got the chance," Gribbin said. "… I would like to thank everyone for your support on this bill. I am so grateful."

HB437 is sponsored by state Rep. David Faulkner (R-Mountain Brook). When presented in the House, it received unanimous approval, except for one pass vote due to someone being absent.

Faulkner said in a statement from House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter that he knew Gribbin because she is a member of the same church he attends and belongs to his community. He said he felt it was his "responsibility to pass this legislation."

"Her story is so much more than what happened to her last summer," Faulkner said. "It's a story of resilience, strength, overcoming adversity and trusting that no matter what, God has a plan for your life. Lulu and her family are an inspiration to thousands, and I'm so thankful that my fellow members prioritized passing this important bill."

According to the press release from Ledbetter, U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) attended the legislative session where HB437 was passed and that she is bringing similar actions to the federal level that would allow shark attacks to qualify as wireless emergency alerts (WEAs).

FEMA.gov reads, "Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) are short emergency messages from authorized federal, state, local, tribal and territorial public alerting authorities that can be broadcast from cell towers to any WEA-enabled mobile device in a locally targeted area. Wireless providers primarily use cell broadcast technology for WEA message delivery."

The website states WEAs can be national emergencies, human made disasters, extreme weather conditions, active shooters, public safety alerts "that may not be imminent," America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response (AMBER) Alerts and opt-in text messages sent through state and local officials.

It states WEAs are sent out based on location. Even if you are in an area where you do not live, like Gribbin was, you will receive the alert for your surrounding location.

Britt said in the press release, "This commonsense legislation would keep our families and children safe, and there is nothing more important than protecting the people we serve."

Also in the release, Gov. Kay Ivey encouraged legislators to push this bill through the Senate.

"Let's be 'Lulu Strong' and get this bill to my desk so I can sign it into law," she said.

An Instagram account, @lulug.strong, has followed Gribbin's path to recovery and journey through the legislative system as she shares her story. On April 10, the account posted a video of her splashing in the Gulf for the first time since her attack.

Many of the comments are supportive of Gribbin's journey and the legislation she has inspired. Some commenters said her story has helped them or their children overcome fears of large bodies of water, like an ocean or a gulf.

With the April 17 approval from the House, HB437 has moved to the second House before it goes to the Senate. If passed by all legislative parties, this act will become effective Oct. 1.