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HB 4198

Education: school districts; mobile panic alert system in schools; require. Amends 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1 - 380.1852) by adding sec. 1308c. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4199'25

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Nancy DeBoer and 4 co-sponsors

HB 4198 requires Michigan schools to deploy a real-time mobile panic alert system, integrated with 9-1-1/PSAPs and first responders, starting in 2025-26.

bill electronically reproduced 03/11/2025
#education:intermediateschooldistricts #education:schooldistricts #schoolaid:publicschoolacademies
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Bill Summary · HB 4198

Summary — HB 4198 (2025): Mobile Panic Alert System in Schools (adds Sec. 1308c to MCL 380)

Purpose

HB 4198 requires Michigan public and nonpublic schools to implement a mobile panic alert system for use during school security emergencies (e.g., lockdowns, active shooter incidents). The intent is to ensure real‑time, two‑way coordination between schools, 9‑1‑1/public safety answering points (PSAPs), local and state law enforcement, and first responder agencies.

Key provisions

  • Implementation required beginning in the 2025–2026 school year, except where an approved exemption is granted.
  • Funding: systems are to be purchased using monies available under section 97n of the State School Aid Act (MCL 388.1697n).
  • System functional requirements:
    • Connect local and state law enforcement, school faculty/staff, and first responders for real‑time coordination with 9‑1‑1 and other agencies.
    • Directly integrate with local PSAP infrastructure to transmit 9‑1‑1 calls from landline activations and mobile activations (including mobile apps and standard mobile calls), maintaining two‑way direct communication between PSAPs and schools.
  • Procurement:
    • The Department of Technology, Management, and Budget (DTMB) shall run a competitive solicitation to procure a mobile panic alert system for use by each public and nonpublic school.
    • DTMB must consult with the Department of Education (the “department” in the text), the Office of School Safety (Dept. of State Police), and the Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (Dept. of State Police) when developing the solicitation and in procurement.
    • Vendor eligibility: vendor must have previously deployed a statewide mobile panic button program and be certified under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act (Public Law 107‑296).
  • Exemptions:
    • A school with an existing panic alert system may petition the department for an exemption. The department will consult State Police offices to determine whether the existing system meets the statutory requirements; it must issue approval or denial with reasons.
  • Enforcement:
    • If a school fails to implement the required system and does not receive an exemption, the Department of State Police may rule the school ineligible for State Police school safety grants for the fiscal year in which noncompliance is discovered.

Definitions (selected)

  • “First responder agency”: local agencies employing law enforcement, firefighters, rescue/ambulance crews; includes a 9‑1‑1 PSAP.
  • “Local law enforcement”: law enforcement agency employing peace officers for a local unit of government.
  • “School security emergency”: includes nonfire evacuations, lockdowns, active‑shooter situations, etc.

Fiscal & procurement notes

  • Implementation is financed through MCL 388.1697n school aid funds.
  • Procurement is subject to MCL 18.1261 (the Management & Budget Act) and competitive solicitation rules.

Procedural / timeline & conditionality

  • Introduced March 10–11, 2025; referred to the education committee.
  • The bill’s enacting section conditions effectiveness on enactment of a related measure (tie‑bar): it does not take effect unless Senate Bill S00479'25 or House Bill 4199 (request no. H00479'25) is enacted.

Who is affected

  • All public school districts and public schools in Michigan, and nonpublic schools, beginning in 2025–26 unless exempted.
  • Local PSAPs, local and state law enforcement, first responder agencies, DTMB (as procuring agency), the Department of Education, and vendors of panic alert systems.

Sponsors & status

  • Introduced in the Michigan House (introduced by Rep. Mark Tisdel with cosponsors listed in the bill text) and referred to the education committee; status: read once and referred (March 2025). The bill text includes a tie‑bar to HB 4199/SB S00479.

If you want, I can:
- Extract the specific statutory references for the funding source and Management & Budget Act,
- Draft a short summary suitable for a press release or school board packet,
- Compare this bill to other statewide panic alert procurement models.

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

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