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HB 4227

Education: safety; 1 emergency and safety manager and at least 1 mental health coordinator; require each intermediate school district to employ. Amends 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1 - 380.1852) by adding sec. 1308g.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Parker Fairbairn and 9 co-sponsors

HB 4227 would require every ISD to designate an Emergency & Safety Manager and a Mental Health Coordinator, subject to funding, to boost school safety and mental health services.

referred to Committee on Rules
#education:intermediateschooldistricts #education:safety
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Bill Summary · HB 4227

HB 4227 — Summary (2025)

Sponsor: Rep. Parker Fairbairn
Introduced: March 10–12, 2025
Status (most recent): Referred to Committee on Rules (5/14/2025)
Subject: Education — intermediate school districts; school safety and student mental health
Law amended: Adds MCL 380.1308g to the Revised School Code (1976 PA 451)

Purpose / Intent

Require each intermediate school district (ISD) to designate (and, in the introduced version, employ) at least one emergency and safety manager and at least one mental health coordinator to strengthen district-level coordination of school safety and student behavioral/mental health services.

Key provisions

  • Adds a new section (proposed MCL 380.1308g) to the Revised School Code that requires each ISD board to designate at least:
    • 1 emergency and safety manager; and
    • 1 mental health coordinator.
  • The requirement is explicitly "subject to appropriation" in the committee substitute (H‑2) — ISDs are required to designate these positions only if the Legislature provides funding.
  • Earlier introduced language included an additional contingency (the act would not take effect unless two other bills were also enacted); the H‑2 substitute replaces that contingency with the subject-to-appropriation language.

Duties — Emergency and Safety Manager (selected highlights)

  • Serve as liaison among state school safety offices, MSP Emergency Management & Homeland Security Division, local/district emergency coordinators, state fire marshal, ISD schools (public and nonpublic), and the School Safety & Mental Health Commission.
  • Work with administrators, emergency responders, and coordinators to implement prevention programs, communicate with families/community, and handle school safety issues.
  • Conduct risk assessments and provide response training across the ISD’s public and nonpublic schools.
  • Compile data measuring outcomes and performance of safety plans, trainings, products, and other safety measures.
  • (Introduced version additionally required coordination on tip notifications under 2018 PA 435.)

Duties — Mental Health Coordinator (selected highlights)

  • Coordinate state funding aimed at expanding student mental health services and supports.
  • Integrate community-based (or faith-based) mental health services and foster partnerships among ISDs, schools, and providers.
  • Facilitate behavioral health assessment teams and develop a school–community mental health system and a behavioral health community resource map.
  • Facilitate deployment of BH‑Works (behavioral health care platform) within the ISD and schools.
  • Compile program outcome data; recruit and support behavioral health providers; coordinate training/professional learning.
  • Oversee and monitor, consistent with other law, Medicaid billing and the Caring for Students (C4S) program as it pertains to ISDs and schools.

Fiscal impact

  • House Fiscal Agency: no immediate state/local fiscal impact as written; the requirement applies only if appropriations are made.
  • Fiscal estimate (HFA): assuming $150,000 per FTE, hiring both positions statewide was estimated at $16.8 million (HFA projection). Costs would vary depending on existing staffing and whether ISDs designate existing personnel to fill the roles.

Who is affected

  • Intermediate school districts (boards must designate the positions).
  • Public schools and nonpublic schools within ISD boundaries (receive coordination, training, risk assessments, BH‑Works support, and connections to behavioral health resources).
  • Local emergency management, law enforcement, mental health providers, and families/communities interacting with ISDs.

Legislative history / procedure (selected)

  • Introduced March 12, 2025; referred to Education & Workforce Committee.
  • Substitute H‑2 adopted (4/16–5/7/2025); reported from committee with recommendation (4/16/2025).
  • Read second and third times; referred to Committee on Rules (5/14/2025).

Positions recorded (committee report)

  • Support: Michigan Association of School Psychologists; Michigan Association of School Social Workers; Michigan PTA; Michigan Catholic Conference; Michigan Association of Non‑public Schools; Michigan Athletic Trainers’ Society.
  • Neutral: Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators.
  • Opposed: Michigan Association of School Boards.

Implementation notes

  • Under the substitute (H‑2), ISDs are required to designate positions only if the Legislature appropriates funds.
  • The bill mandates coordination tasks and reporting/measurement activities but leaves operational details (job descriptions, hiring vs. designation of existing staff, timelines) to ISDs and appropriations.

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

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