Great Lakes Wire

Michigan House Republicans have announced a comprehensive school safety plan designed to enhance campus security, expand mental health support, and improve staff preparedness. The announcement was made on the social media platform X.

According to Chalkbeat Detroit, the proposed legislation comprises House Bills 4222–4229 and is aimed at protecting students during emergencies. The bills would require all public schools to establish crisis response teams and update their emergency preparedness plans every three years in collaboration with local law enforcement. The plan also mandates conducting lockdown drills during lunch and passing periods and installing temporary door locking devices to bolster building security.

As reported by Michigan Advance, the school safety package includes new mental health provisions that require the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to provide suicide prevention and mental health materials to private schools upon request. Additionally, student ID cards will now feature the OK2SAY confidential reporting hotline, while the Michigan State Police must report quarterly on the number of tips received. Lawmakers say these reforms aim to foster early intervention and reduce potential threats through increased awareness and access to resources.

According to a report by Michigan House Republicans, the legislation also calls for enhanced coordination and staff readiness by assigning two safety and mental health coordinators to each intermediate school district. These officials would serve as liaisons between the state and local districts, supporting grant applications, developing safety procedures, and training school personnel. Lawmakers argue that having a designated point of contact will improve communication, increase compliance, and ensure consistent implementation across districts.