State Rep. Mike Harris and fellow representatives from both sides of the aisle on Wednesday reintroduced a comprehensive plan to enhance security and mental health efforts at Michigan schools.

The proposals to improve statewide coordination and support for school safety and student mental health resulted from a bipartisan task force established by the House of Representatives after the 2021 shooting at Oxford High School. The plan, consisting of House Bills 4222-4229 incorporates expertise from educators, parents, mental health professionals, and law enforcement. Harris, who served as a school resource officer during his 26-year police career, highlighted his House Bill 4223, which would require standard training on safety and mental health protocols for all school staff, security personnel, and resource officers.

“Michigan students deserve safe classrooms where they can learn confidently and without fear,” said Harris, R-Waterford. “Mental health support can also prevent anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges distracting young people from their studies or keeping them from living up to their potential. My colleagues and I are once again introducing the detailed, bipartisan plan to strengthen safety and expand mental health resources in our schools. This statewide plan will improve coordination with school leaders, update school safety plans, train school staff, improve the OK2SAY reporting system, and implement other protocols to make schools safer and students healthier.”

Although Harris and his colleagues originally introduced the plan in February 2023, only a few bills received a vote last year in the Democrat-majority House. These four bills, which Harris and the House approved in December, became law early this year. The laws permanently established a School Safety and Mental Health Commission to coordinate with local schools, recommend school safety and mental health practices, and publish an annual report on its findings. The new laws also establish standard terminology so school officials and first responders can communicate clearly in emergencies. Harris said it’s time to act on the rest of the plan.

“The comprehensive recommendations of the bipartisan School Safety and Mental Health Task Force work together and build on each other so that every student, teacher, administrator, and first responder in the state can have the resources and knowledge needed to respond appropriately to an emergency or to get mental health support,” Harris said. “We were able to get a few of the bipartisan bills into law last year, but now it’s time to pass the rest of the plan. I’ll always have the backs of school resource officers, counselors, educators, and families, and school safety will always be a top priority.”

In addition to Harris’ bill to require safety and emergency training for school personnel, the plan would:

• Plan for safety. Schools would be required to review and update their safety plans every three years in consultation with their ISD-level safety coordinator, and statewide standards would guide the implementation of modern security measures for school buildings.
• Dedicate school staff to student safety and mental health. The plan would establish a safety and security coordinator and a mental health coordinator at each intermediate school district. These new staff would serve as points of contact for school safety plans, grant opportunities, and mental health and security strategies. They would maintain communication between the state and school districts within the ISD, while also facilitating communication between other school districts in their region.
• Expand and improve OK2SAY, the state’s confidential tip line for reporting school-related threats, misconduct, or mental health crises. Contact information for OK2SAY would be placed on school ID cards for easy student access. Reporting and tips received by OK2SAY would be passed on to the ISD coordinators and local law enforcement; reporting and tips would also be provided quarterly to the School Safety and Mental Health Commission. Higher standards and new reporting definitions for OK2SAY would also be adopted.
• Implement training for responding to school safety crises. Schools would be required to provide uniform, comprehensive school safety and security training for school resource officers and all staff. The plan would also require necessary safety drills for staff and students.

HBs 4222-4229 were referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.