Great Lakes Wire

The Michigan House Republican Caucus has announced on X that its members have reintroduced a bipartisan school safety plan through House Bills 4222–4229.

According to a press release from the Michigan House Republicans, these bills aim to address school safety through a preventative and collaborative approach. The proposal incorporates input from educators, law enforcement, parents, and mental health professionals to enhance emergency preparedness and student wellness. It revives a plan previously introduced in the last legislative session but not taken up for a vote by the Democrat majority.

The Michigan House Fiscal Agency states that House Bill 4222 requires all schools to create crisis response teams and revise their emergency plans at least every three years. These plans must be developed with local law enforcement and include procedures for lockdowns, evacuations, and family reunifications. The bill also authorizes temporary door-locking devices to secure classrooms during emergencies.

As reported by Michigan Advance, House Bill 4227 mandates that every intermediate school district employ both a school safety and security coordinator and a mental health coordinator. The safety role would involve risk assessments and liaison duties with emergency responders, while the mental health role would develop and coordinate mental health programming. Implementation of these positions statewide is projected to cost $16.8 million annually.