SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
House Bill 5539 (as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Kimberly LaSata
House Committee: Law and Justice
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Student Safety Act to include sexual abuse, assault, or rape among the potential harm or criminal acts for which the public may submit reports and information to the Attorney General.
The Act requires the Attorney General, in consultation with the Michigan State Police, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Education, to establish a program (commonly called OK2SAY) for receiving reports and other information from the public regarding potential self-harm and potential harm or criminal acts directed at students, school employees, or schools.
Under the bill, potential harm or criminal acts would include, but not be limited to, sexual abuse, assault, or rape.
The bill would take effect 90 days after its enactment.
BACKGROUND
The OK2SAY program is a student safety initiative for Michigan students in grades K-12 established by the Attorney General under the Student Safety Act. The program encourages Michigan residents to confidentially report tips on potential harm or criminal activities directed at schools, school employees, and students. Tips may be submitted 24-hours-a-day, year-round by telephone, text message, email, mobile application, or the OK2SAY website. Tips are assessed by OK2SAY technicians who disseminate the information to local law enforcement agencies, school officials, community mental health service programs, or the Department of Health and Human Services for response. Tips are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. According to its Winter 2018 newsletter, since the program started on September 1, 2014, to December 31, 2017, OK2SAY received more than 10,000 tips regarding suicide, bullying, cyberbullying, sexual assault and misconduct, and other categories of potential harm or criminal activity.
Legislative Analyst: Stephen Jackson
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.