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HB 6191

Children: protection; mandatory reporting requirements for school employees or individuals who are assigned to regularly and continuously work under contract at a school; provide for. Amends sec. 3 of 1975 PA 238 (MCL 722.623).

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Phil Skaggs

Michigan bill expands mandatory child abuse reporting requirements from school employees to all contractors and individuals regularly working in schools, broadening legal reporting obligations and potential liability.

bill electronically reproduced 11/26/2024
#children:childabuseorchildneglect #children:protection #crimes:abuse
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Bill Summary · HB 6191

Legislative bill overview

HB 6191 amends Michigan's child protection law to expand mandatory reporting requirements for individuals working in schools. The bill extends reporting obligations beyond just school employees to include contractors and others regularly assigned to work continuously at school facilities. This broadens who is legally required to report suspected child abuse or neglect.

Why is this important

Mandatory reporting laws are designed to catch child abuse and neglect early by requiring trained adults in positions of trust to alert authorities. Expanding these requirements to all school-based workers—including vendors, maintenance contractors, and other regular service providers—theoretically closes gaps where abuse might go unreported. However, this also significantly increases the number of people subject to legal penalties for non-reporting.

Potential points of contention

  • Definition clarity: The bill's language about individuals "regularly and continuously" assigned to schools may be ambiguous—does this include occasional contractors, substitute vendors, or parents volunteering regularly?
  • Liability expansion: Broadening mandatory reporter status could expose more private contractors and service providers to legal liability, potentially increasing costs for schools as contractors demand higher fees or liability protections
  • Implementation burden: Schools would need systems to train, track, and ensure compliance among a much larger and more fluid group of individuals, creating administrative complexity

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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