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HB 5659

Law enforcement: state police; school safety commission membership; revise. Amends title & sec. 3 of 2018 PA 548 (MCL 28.803); adds sec. 6 & repeals sec. 5 of 2018 PA 548 (MCL 28.805).

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Kelly Breen and 2 co-sponsors

The act creates the School Safety and Mental Health Commission within the MSP to coordinate statewide school safety and student mental health, including suicide prevention.

assigned PA 263'24
#education:safety #lawenforcement:statepolice #stateagencies(existing):boardsandcommissions #stateagencies(existing):statepolice
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Bill Summary · HB 5659

Summary — HB 5659 (Public Act 263 of 2024)

Comprehensive School Safety Plan Act — School Safety and Mental Health Commission

Purpose

HB 5659 revises the Comprehensive School Safety Plan Act to replace the existing School Safety Commission with a newly constituted School Safety and Mental Health Commission housed in the Michigan Department of State Police (MSP). The new commission is charged with statewide coordination and recommendations focused on school safety and the mental health of school‑aged children, including suicide prevention.

Key provisions

  • Repeals the prior School Safety Commission (section 5), effective December 31, 2024, and establishes the School Safety and Mental Health Commission (section 6) beginning January 1, 2025.
  • Places the commission within the Department of State Police (MSP).
  • Specifies duties including:
    • Developing recommendations to reduce youth suicides and strengthen student mental health statewide.
    • Soliciting input from education and mental‑health professionals and organizations.
    • Collaborating with the Michigan Suicide Prevention Commission.
    • Creating an online community to share best practices and convening symposiums.
    • Conveying recommendations to LARA and its Bureau of Construction Codes about school‑consistent building construction.
  • Authorizes the department, in consultation with the commission, to hire an executive director and staff.

Membership, terms, operations

  • Commission composition: 12 governor‑appointed members (selected either from lists submitted by legislative leaders or directly appointed) with specified backgrounds, including:
    • School mental health experience, law enforcement background, parent, special education, school psychologist/psychiatrist, behavioral health professional, teacher, community‑based youth organization affiliate, school administration, threat‑assessment experience, inpatient child treatment experience, and a current student or recent high‑school graduate.
  • Nonvoting ex officio members (department heads or designees): MSP director, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Director of DHHS.
  • Terms: initial staggered appointments (7 two‑year, 5 four‑year); thereafter 4‑year terms. Governor may remove members for cause.
  • Meetings at least quarterly; quorum is a majority. Commission actions subject to Open Meetings Act and records subject to FOIA.
  • Members receive no compensation but may be reimbursed for necessary expenses.

Reporting and effective dates

  • Annual report required each October 30 beginning October 30, 2026, to legislative education and fiscal committees; reports must be posted on the department website.
  • Legislative timeline: introduced April 24, 2024; passed both chambers late 2024; enacted as Public Act No. 263 (approved by the Governor Jan 22, 2025). The statute phases out the old commission Dec 31, 2024 and establishes the new commission Jan 1, 2025. (Check the published act for the exact statutory effective date applicable to specific provisions.)

Who is affected / potential impact

  • Affects MSP (new administrative responsibilities and potential staffing costs), schools (through school safety liaisons and adoption of commission recommendations), LARA/Bureau of Construction Codes (receipt of construction‑related recommendations), educators, mental‑health providers, students and families.
  • Expected to centralize coordination on school mental‑health policy, promote best practices and interagency collaboration, and provide a formal mechanism for recommendations on suicide prevention and school facility safety. The bill does not appropriate funding; staffing or implementation costs would depend on future budgets or administrative actions.

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

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