SENATE BILL No. 1408

September 17, 2002, Introduced by Senator GOSCHKA and referred to the Committee on

Education.

A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled

"The revised school code,"

(MCL 380.1 to 380.1852) by adding section 1175a.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

1 SEC. 1175A. (1) THE FOURTH FRIDAY IN APRIL OF EACH YEAR IS

2 DESIGNATED AS "CHILDREN'S REMEMBRANCE DAY" IN MEMORY OF CHILDREN

3 AND YOUTH, AGE 20 AND YOUNGER, WHO HAVE DIED.

4 (2) THE STATE BOARD SHALL APPOINT A CHILDREN'S REMEMBRANCE

5 DAY ADVISORY GROUP TO DESIGN AND PROMOTE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR

6 POSSIBLE USE IN THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM TO HELP PREVENT DEATHS

7 AMONG CHILDREN AND YOUTH. THE ADVISORY GROUP SHALL CONSIST OF

8 ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:

9 (A) AT LEAST 1 TEACHER.

10 (B) AT LEAST 1 SCHOOL COUNSELOR.

07050'02 TAV

2

1 (C) AT LEAST 1 SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST.

2 (D) AT LEAST 1 SCHOOL-AGE CHILD.

3 (E) AT LEAST 1 PARENT OF A SCHOOL-AGE CHILD.

4 (F) A NUMBER OF HEALTH AND SAFETY PROFESSIONALS AS THE STATE

5 BOARD CONSIDERS APPROPRIATE FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION.

6 (3) THE CHILDREN'S REMEMBRANCE DAY ADVISORY GROUP SHALL MEET

7 AT LEAST ONCE EVERY 6 MONTHS. THE CHILDREN'S REMEMBRANCE DAY

8 ADVISORY GROUP MAY DEVELOP MODEL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS FOR THE

9 SCHOOLS OF THIS STATE THAT ARE DESIGNED TO DO ALL OF THE

10 FOLLOWING:

11 (A) INCREASE AWARENESS AMONG PUPILS AND THEIR PARENTS ABOUT

12 THE CAUSES OF PREMATURE AND AVOIDABLE DEATHS AMONG CHILDREN AND

13 YOUTH, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ILLNESS, HOMICIDE, AND

14 ACCIDENT.

15 (B) PRESENT STRATEGIES FOR PUPILS AND PARENTS TO CONSIDER

16 ADOPTING TO BETTER PREVENT THE TYPES OF DEATHS DESCRIBED IN SUB-

17 DIVISION (A). THESE STRATEGIES SHALL INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT

18 LIMITED TO, ALCOHOL AWARENESS, SAFETY EDUCATION, AND PHYSICAL AND

19 MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION.

20 (4) A SCHOOL BOARD OR PUBLIC SCHOOL ACADEMY BOARD OF DIREC-

21 TORS IS ENCOURAGED TO DO 1 OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING:

22 (A) ADOPT AND IMPLEMENT THE MODEL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

23 DEVELOPED UNDER SUBSECTION (3).

24 (B) ENGAGE IN AGE-APPROPRIATE COMMEMORATIVE ACTIVITIES ON

25 CHILDREN'S REMEMBRANCE DAY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE OF PREMATURE AND

26 AVOIDABLE DEATHS AMONG CHILDREN AND YOUTH.

07050'02 Final page. TAV