Attorney General Bill Schuette today praised the Michigan House of Representatives for passing legislation which will implement his student safety hotline initiative, OK-2-SAY, by a margin of 108-1.
Introduced by Sen. Judy Emmons (R-Sheridan), S.B. 374 creates a communication system that enables students, parents, school personnel, and law enforcement to share and respond to student safety threats.
S.B. 374 now heads to the Senate for a final concurrence vote before heading to the governor’s desk.
“This legislation will help students break the culture of silence by providing them with a confidential resource to stop tragedy and violence before it occurs,” said Schuette. “We cannot sit and wait for the next Columbine or Sandy Hook. I thank the House of Representatives for taking this action.”
In May 2013, Schuette unveiled the OK-2-SAY proposed student safety initiative with Lt. Governor Brian Calley, Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, Director of the Michigan State Police, and Mike Flanagan, State Superintendent. OK-2-SAY will stop violence and tragedy by facilitating confidential tip-sharing among students, parents, school personnel and law enforcement officials.
According to the U.S. Secret Service, for 81% of violent incidents in U.S. schools, someone other than the attacker had knowledge of the attacker's plan but failed to report it. Schuette has emphasized the need to discourage the persistent culture of silence among students who fear reporting threatening behavior is intrusive, will lead to retaliation or result in stigmatization for the tipster.
OK-2-SAY has the support of: American Federation of Teachers Michigan, Cadillac Area Public Schools, Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, Association of Intermediate School Administrators, Association of Non-Public Schools, Association of School Administrators, Michigan Association of School Boards, Michigan Association of School Social Workers, Michigan Catholic Conference, Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals, Michigan Education Association, Michigan Elementary and Middle School Principals Association, Michigan Parent Teacher Association, Michigan Sheriffs Association, Middle Cities Risk Management Trust, Middle Cities Education Association, Middle Cities Workers' Compensation Fund, Oakland Schools, and the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan.
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