2024 House Bill 5659

AI Analysis – Experimental

HB 5659 proposes amendments to the Comprehensive School Safety Plan Act of 2018, specifically modifying the title and section 3 (MCL 28.803) and adding section 6. The primary objective of the legislation is to establish the School Safety and Mental Health Commission within the Department of State Police, effective January 1, 2025. This commission will replace the existing School Safety Commission and will be composed of members appointed by the Governor, including individuals with expertise in school mental health, law enforcement, special education, behavioral health, and school administration, among others. The commission will also include nonvoting, ex officio members from various state departments. The commission's responsibilities include providing recommendations to reduce youth suicides, strengthening the mental health of school-aged children and their families, collaborating with the Michigan Suicide Prevention Commission, and maintaining an online community for sharing best practices and resources. The commission is required to meet at least quarterly and must comply with the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act. Members will not receive compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses. The commission is authorized to hire an executive director and staff. Additionally, the commission must prepare and issue an annual report detailing its findings and recommendations, which will be made publicly available on the department's website. The legislation also repeals section 5 of the Comprehensive School Safety Plan Act, effective December 31, 2024.

HB 5660 amends the Revised School Code to redefine roles and responsibilities related to school safety and special education, introduces a new school safety commission structure effective from 2025, mandates incident reporting to the Department of State Police, and ties compliance to eligibility for school safety grants.