LANSING, Mich., Oct. 10, 2024 — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bill 5503 into law today, which provides an additional $125 million for schools across the state to use at their discretion for costs related to school safety and mental health. The legislation also provides an additional $1 million for educational materials on the safe storage of firearms and allows for an anonymous tip line to accept reports of improperly stored firearms that a child might be able to access. In celebration of the bill being signed into law, state Rep. Joey Andrews (D-St. Joseph) issued the following statement:
“We listened to the needs of our schools and we acted by providing them with the necessary investments to better support students’ mental health needs and keep them safe. These needs vary from district to district and even from school to school, which is why we are empowering schools to make their own decisions on how these funds can best serve them. I’m proud to have voted for legislation that addresses the unique needs of our schools and supports our teachers and kids — I’m grateful to see this legislation signed into law.”
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