House committee advances package of school-safety bills after testimony on 'Okay to Say' tip line

At a meeting of the House Education and Workforce Committee, members adopted substitute measures and voted to report a package of school-safety bills, including House Bill 42 29, after testimony about the "Okay to Say" tip line and clarifying amendments to how tips and notifications are defined and handled.

The bills considered included House Bill 42 22, House Bill 42 26, House Bill 42 27, House Bill 42 58, House Bill 42 59 and House Bill 42 29. Representative Steele presented testimony in support of HB 42 29 and a resident from Orion described the "Okay to Say" tip line as a confidential hotline that can be used when someone observes behavior that may suggest a risk of violence. The resident said, "since its implementation there was like 300 calls and now it's worked its way up to almost 12,000 calls," and described a proposal that the tip-line number be printed on student identification cards so students and staff can access it discreetly.

Gabrielle, staff to Representative Neely, summarized HB 42 29 as a requirement that the Office of School Safety compile and report tips, as defined in House Bill 42 59, to the School Safety and Mental Health Commission on a quarterly basis. Gabrielle said, "These reports will be provided quarterly to the commission" and argued the reporting would help the commission "better understand the situations our schools and students are facing."

Representative Wilson asked whether adding the tip-line number to student identification cards would impose a state cost. Representative Steele said she did not know immediately whether a fiscal analysis had been completed and would follow up. A staff member present responded during the hearing that schools would absorb the cost of adding the number to student IDs.

Committee members also discussed substitutes that clarify emergency operations, the makeup of school crisis teams, inclusion of nonpublic schools on the same schedule as public schools for reviewing emergency plans, adding athletic trainers to support students at risk of behavioral-health issues, a 24-hour notification requirement to schools when the Michigan State Police (MSP) can identify a school from a tip, and a definitional bill adding what constitutes a "tip" in the School Safety Act.

Votes at a glance - Adopt H1 substitute to House Bill 42 29 (fixes references, adds cross-reference to HB 42 58 and the School Safety and Mental Health Commission): motion moved by Vice Chair Linting; tally recorded as 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pass; motion prevails. - Adopt H2 substitute to House Bill 42 22 (puts nonpublic schools on same schedule as public schools for emergency plan review; provides flexibility on crisis-team makeup): motion moved by Vice Chair Linting; tally recorded as 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pass; motion prevails. - Adopt H1 substitute to House Bill 42 26 (clarifies practicability of a lockdown drill between classes): motion moved by Vice Chair Linting; tally recorded as 11 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pass; motion prevails. - Adopt H2 substitute to House Bill 42 27 (allows ISDs to designate individuals for specified positions; adds athletic trainers to support students at risk): motion moved by Vice Chair Linting; tally recorded as 11 yays, 0 nays, 0 pass; motion prevails. - Adopt H1 substitute to House Bill 42 58 (requires MSP to notify the school within 24 hours to main office or after-hours number if MSP identifies the school in a tip; simplifies statutory language to define "school" to include public and nonpublic schools): motion moved by Vice Chair Linting; tally recorded as 11 yays, 0 nays, 0 pass; motion prevails. - Reported to the full House with recommendation: HB 42 22 as Substitute H2 — tally recorded as 6 yeas, 0 nays, 5 pass; motion prevails. - Reported to the full House with recommendation: HB 42 26 as Substitute H1 — tally recorded in the transcript as 6 yeas, 1 nay, 4 pass; motion prevails. - Reported to the full House with recommendation: HB 42 27 as Substitute H2 — tally recorded as 6 ayes, 2 nays (transcript entry shows "60 ayes, 2 nays" which the clerk read as 6 and 2), motion prevails. - Reported to the full House with recommendation: HB 42 58 as Substitute H1 — tally recorded as 9 yeas, 0 nays; motion prevails. - Reported to the full House with recommendation: HB 42 59 — tally recorded as 9 yeas, 0 nays; motion prevails.

Committee staff announced the disposition of public testimony cards: the Michigan Association of School Boards submitted a card opposing HB 42 27 (Jennifer Smith, did not wish to speak). Cards in support were submitted by individuals and groups including the Michigan Parent Teacher Association (Jen Garland), the Michigan Association of Nonpublic Schools (Brian Broderick), and the Michigan Catholic Conference (Paul Stankiewicz) for multiple bills in the package.

The committee concluded its business and adjourned.