2024 House Bill 5548

Torts: governmental immunity; accountability for public officials; modify.

A bill to amend 1964 PA 170, entitled “An act to make uniform the liability of municipal corporations, political subdivisions, and the state, its agencies and departments, officers, employees, and volunteers thereof, and members of certain boards, councils, and task forces when engaged in the exercise or discharge of a governmental function, for injuries to property and persons; to define and limit this liability; to define and limit the liability of the state when engaged in a proprietary function; to authorize the purchase of liability insurance to protect against loss arising out of this liability; to provide for defending certain claims made against public officers, employees, and volunteers and for paying damages sought or awarded against them; to provide for the legal defense of public officers, employees, and volunteers; to provide for reimbursement of public officers and employees for certain legal expenses; and to repeal acts and parts of acts,” by amending sections 1 and 7 (MCL 691.1401 and 691.1407), section 1 as amended by 2012 PA 50 and section 7 as amended by 2013 PA 173, and by adding section 6b.

AI Analysis – Experimental

The bill amends existing laws to hold school districts liable for deaths or serious injuries caused by gross negligence of their personnel, clarifies definitions, and specifies that governmental immunity does not apply in such cases.

Introduced in the House

March 6, 2024

Introduced by Rep. Josh Schriver (R-66)

Referred to the Committee on Government Operations