LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – On Tuesday, a bipartisan group of legislators in the Michigan House introduced legislation to improve the safety of students in K-12 schools throughout Michigan. The legislation comes out of recommendations from the school safety task force that was started in 2021 after the Oxford school shooting tragedy.

The legislation was submitted to the House enrolling clerks last Thursday and introduced as legislation on Tuesday, February 14th. State Rep. Kathy Schmaltz (R-46) out of Jackson is one of the sponsors of the legislation that includes HB 4088-4100 and has been referred to the House Education Committee for consideration.

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Schmaltz said about the legislation, “The timing of this bill package is not lost on any of us. The horrifying events that unfolded at Michigan State University once again shattered our sense of security and left people across our state with a feeling of deep despair. In the days following the Oxford tragedy and again today we ask ourselves ‘how could this happen?’ It’s a complex issue with no one simple solution, but the bipartisan bills we introduced represent a willingness to work together to improve school safety and address the mental health needs of Michigan students.”

After the Oxford school shooting, a bipartisan task force of four Republicans and four Democrats met with teachers, administrators, parents, law enforcement, mental health professionals, and other experts to identify policy solutions that could help prevent future acts of violence against students and teachers. The task force released its report last December.

The task force was put together to study safety in schools and policy solutions that the legislators hope will prevent future acts of violence by improving safety protocols at schools as well as ways to assess and improve student mental health. In 2018, a school safety commission formed within the Michigan State Police (MSP). Numerous recommendations were made and implemented. In conjunction with MSP, this Task Force reviewed and discussed the commission’s work done to date and took action to implement and fund the remaining measures which are further detailed in this report.

In a summary of the report, Rep. Kelly Breen (D-21) out of Oakland County said, “We determined that one of the most effective ways to keep our schools safe is by addressing the root causes of violence – mental health. In our schools it is paramount that we ensure that all students have access to qualified counselors and adequate mental health resources.”

The legislation introduced on Tuesday is designed to organize a unified approach to school safety and student mental health with communication, training, personnel, and more.

The package would:

Establish the School Safety and Mental Health Commission

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This commission would identify best practices for schools to address behavioral, physical, and mental health needs. The commission would support at-risk students and work to reduce youth suicides by establishing a comprehensive statewide approach.

Dedicate School Staff to Student Safety and Mental Health

Each intermediate school district will receive funding to hire one safety and security coordinator and one mental health coordinator. These new staff would serve as points of contact for school safety plans, grant opportunities, and mental health and security strategies. They would maintain communication between the state and school districts within the ISD, while also facilitating communication between other school districts in their region.

Plan for Safety

A measure sponsored by Schmaltz would require schools to review and update their safety plans every three years in consultation with their ISD-level safety coordinator. Another provision would establish statewide standards to guide the implementation of modern security measures for school buildings.

Expand and Improve OK2SAY

Contact information for the OK2Say confidential tip line would be placed on school ID cards for easy student access. Reporting and tips received by OK2Say would be passed on to the ISD coordinators and local law enforcement; reporting and tips would also be provided quarterly to the School Safety and Mental Health Commission. Higher standards and new reporting definitions for OK2SAY would also be adopted.

Improve Responses to School Safety Crises

The plan would require the Michigan State Police to provide uniform, comprehensive school safety and security training for school resource officers and all staff at Michigan schools. It would also create uniform definitions statewide for school safety terms, such as lockdowns, to foster better communication during crisis events. Other provisions would add more active-shooter drills and ensure at least one drill includes local law enforcement involvement and one is conducted between classes.

Schmaltz noted that although the legislation specifically addresses K-12 schools, the Legislature should explore additional ways to protect colleges and other locations.

“School safety is not a partisan issue,” Schmaltz said. “It’s an issue we all care deeply about. That’s why it’s so important that Democrats and Republicans are working together to put the safety and the mental health of Michigan students first.”

Several school safety bills were already passed while the task forced continued to do their work last year including HB 6020 which helps retain school counselors; HB 6042 which updates mapping requirements in school safety plans so first responders have the best information possible to respond to incidents; Public Act 48 of 2022 better allowing temporary door barricade use during emergencies and the House’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget proposal of $200 million based on task force recommendations for increased mental health services within Michigan schools.