UBLIC SCHOOL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

House Bill 5121

Sponsor:  Rep. Tupac Hunter

Committee:  Education

Complete to 3-8-04

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5121 AS INTRODUCED 10-2-03

House Bill 5121 would allow a school district having at least 20,000 students to employ public safety officers, or police officers, and give them the same powers and authority of a peace or law enforcement officer under the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Michigan Vehicle Code.

Before granting these powers, a school board would be required to have at least two public hearings, and the powers could not be granted unless the board created a public safety advisory committee having between three and five members.  The committee would receive and address grievances brought by people against the public safety officers or police officers, or against the public safety department or police department of the school district.  The committee also could recommend to the board or administration of the school district that disciplinary measures be taken against an officer found responsible for misconduct in office.

The bill specifies that the jurisdiction of the officers would include all territory within the boundaries of the school district, as well as all property outside the boundaries of the school district that owned, leased, or rented by, or otherwise under the legal control of the employing school district.

Under the bill, the public safety department or police department of a school district, and each local law enforcement agency with which it had overlapping jurisdiction, would be required to enter into a memorandum of understanding that established reasonable communication and coordination efforts between them.

The bill specifies that the officers of a school district would be required to meet the minimum standards of the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards.  Further, the safety department or police department of the school district would be required to submit monthly uniform crime reports concerning crimes committed within the department’s jurisdiction.

MCL 380.1240

FISCAL IMPACT:

House Bill 5121 would have no fiscal impact to the state.  The bill could have an indeterminate fiscal impact to the four districts in the state that have at least 20,000 membership pupils (Flint, Grand Rapids, Utica, and Detroit) if these districts choose to employ public safety officers under this section.  The potential costs would be administrative costs of creating and operating the public safety advisory committee required to hear grievances against the public safety officers and costs of submission of the required monthly uniform crime reports. 

 

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:  J. Hunault

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:  Laurie Cummings

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.