Michigan lawmakers pass school safety bills with focus on student mental health

Democrats and Republicans are teaming up to advance a sweeping package of bills that would bolster school security, as well as improve mental health resources for students.

MICHIGAN—In a relatively rare display of bipartisan agreement, both Democratic and Republican state representatives this week voted to advance several bills that could help enhance school safety measures, improve mental health resources, and prevent tragedies.

The package of bills, which passed the Michigan House on Tuesday with broad support, is largely designed to prevent violence like the deadly shooting at Oxford High School in 2021.

Among other changes, the legislation would require stricter school procedures in response to various emergencies, as well as help expand mental health resources for students at school.

“In the event of an emergency, we want to make sure that everyone is on the same page, everyone is using the same terminology, and that there are no mixups,” state Rep. Kelly Breen (D-Novi) told her colleagues during committee testimony on the legislation earlier this month. 

State Rep. Luke Meerman (R-Coopersville) also labeled the bills as “long overdue.”

“We must show the people of Michigan, we as lawmakers can come together and produce solutions that address real needs in the state,” Meerman told his colleagues this week. 

The package of legislation, which now heads to the state Senate, includes:

• House Bills 4095 and 4096 would require the Michigan State Police to develop standardized terms—like “lockdown”— that can be used by all schools in response to certain situations, namely to make sure cops and school officials stay on the same page.
• House Bill 5549 would require all schools in Michigan to designate staff members who can help keep an eye out for alarming student behaviours and threats—namely to facilitate help to those who are found to be at risk of harming themselves or others.
• House Bills 5659 and 5660 would replace the state’s existing School Safety Commission with a new School Safety and Mental Health Commission. That board would specifically examine and make recommendations to improve school safety measures and mental health support, according to reports from Michigan Advance.

It’s worth noting: Despite the recent bipartisan cooperation on the school safety bills, Republican state Rep. Josh Schriver, who represents Oxford, voted against all of them.

READ MORE: Revamped Michigan school safety bills get first committee hearing

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