This bill modifies Michigan's pupil transportation laws to clarify safety requirements for school vehicles. It mandates that all school buses used for student transport must meet or exceed federal safety standards for construction and seating. Additionally, the bill prohibits using any vehicle with 11 or more passengers, including the driver, to transport students unless it is specifically classified as a motor bus under separate regulations. These changes directly affect public and private schools, as well as private businesses and government units that operate vehicles for student transport.
This bill requires Michigan school districts to appoint independent decision makers to conduct disciplinary hearings for students facing suspension of more than 10 days, expulsion, or alternative placement for more than 10 days. These independent decision makers must remain neutral by not investigating the incident, providing testimony, or presenting evidence, and they must apply a preponderance of the evidence standard when making decisions. The bill also grants students the right to be represented by an attorney or advocate at these hearings and mandates that schools provide written reports explaining the findings and appeal rights to students and their parents. Additionally, the legislation ensures that students with Individualized Education Programs are invited to meet with their IEP team before any disciplinary decision is implemented.
This bill modifies Michigan's school disciplinary procedures to require school officials to consider specific student factors before suspending or expelling a pupil, including age, disciplinary history, disability status, trauma experiences, and housing stability. For suspensions lasting more than 10 days or expulsions, the bill creates a rebuttable presumption that such actions are unjustified unless the school board demonstrates it evaluated all required factors and held a hearing within 10 school days. The legislation mandates that schools provide detailed written notice to students and parents before hearings, including evidence summaries, and ensures continued access to educational services during removal periods. These changes apply to suspensions and expulsions under various school code sections but exclude cases involving firearm possession in weapon-free zones.
This bill modifies Michigan's school discipline laws to strengthen consequences for physical assaults between students in grades 6 and above. It requires school boards to suspend or expel students who commit physical violence at school for up to 180 days, while also making it the responsibility of expelled students and their families to find alternative education programs. The legislation adds new reporting requirements that mandate school districts to annually submit detailed data on expulsions, including student demographics such as race, ethnicity, disability status, and economic disadvantage. Additionally, the bill requires schools to post crime statistics on their websites and collect weekly incident data to help identify safety issues and allocate resources appropriately. These changes aim to provide clearer guidelines for handling student violence and improve transparency in school safety reporting.
HB 5554 amends Michigan's Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to strengthen protections against harassment in educational institutions. It directly affects public and private schools, colleges, and their students and staff by expanding the definition of harassment to explicitly include electronic communications (like texts or social media) and adding specific protections for students based on gender identity/expression and sexual orientation. Key mechanisms require educational institutions to prevent harassment that creates intimidating, hostile, or offensive environments, and clarify that discrimination includes harassment based on these protected characteristics. The bill updates existing provisions (Sec. 401-402) and adds new sections (402b-d) to ensure consistent enforcement of these protections.
HB 5480, known as the "Natalia Moore Law," allows parents to transfer children to another school district if the child experiences bullying at their current school. To qualify, parents must provide documented bullying incidents, proof of reporting to school staff, and evidence that prior interventions failed. The receiving district must accept the transfer and share academic records within 7 days, while the child’s original district cannot charge tuition for such transfers under the amended school code. This law directly affects students experiencing bullying and their families seeking safer school environments.
HB 4227 requires every intermediate school district in Michigan to hire at least one emergency and safety manager and one mental health coordinator. The emergency manager coordinates with state and local agencies to prevent safety incidents, conduct risk assessments, and handle safety concerns across schools. The mental health coordinator manages state funding for student mental health services, integrates community resources, and oversees programs like Medicaid billing and behavioral health support. These roles aim to strengthen safety planning and mental health access for all public and nonpublic schools within each district's boundaries.
HB 4224 requires all Michigan K-12 public and private schools to install emergency responder radio coverage systems within 10 years if they lack them, ensuring these systems integrate with statewide public safety communications and cover all building areas. It also mandates the state to create and publish safety guidelines for school lockdown procedures within 90 days, including how fire codes impact lockdowns and evacuation plans. These guidelines must align with existing construction and fire safety codes. The bill directly affects every K-12 school building in Michigan and requires coordination with state agencies like the Michigan State Police and fire marshals for implementation.
HB 4228 requires Michigan's Department of State Police and its Office of School Safety to provide annual training to all school staff, school resource officers, and school safety personnel in public and nonpublic schools. The training covers key safety topics including threat assessment protocols (based on the Secret Service's guidelines), de-escalation techniques, emergency response procedures, cultural competence, mental health services, and legal authority in school settings. It also mandates specific legal training from the Attorney General's office on officers' authority and security personnel limitations. The bill directly affects every school employee in Michigan by establishing standardized safety training requirements.
HB 4258 creates a statewide 24/7 hotline for the Michigan State Police to receive public reports about threats of self-harm, sexual abuse, assault, or violence targeting school students, staff, or schools. It requires the State Police to notify affected schools and local law enforcement within 24 hours of receiving such reports. The bill also mandates that existing school violence hotlines be disconnected within six months of the new hotline's launch and includes requirements for mental health resource referrals and staff training. This law directly affects schools, law enforcement, and students by establishing a standardized system for reporting and responding to school safety threats.
