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Rep. Berman testifies in support of school safety plan
RELEASE|March 23, 2021

State Rep. Ryan Berman today testified before the House Committee on Education in support of his plan to require annual health and safety inspections in Michigan schools.

“Michigan students go to school to learn, and parents should have confidence that their children are being educated in a safe environment,” said Berman, of Commerce Township. “Regular inspections will help keep our schools — and thus our students — safe and healthy.”

Berman’s House Bill 4167 would mandate an annual health and safety inspection in all Michigan school buildings, including charter schools and nonpublic schools. The governing body of the school or district would designate a person to conduct the inspection.

Under the plan, the state Department of Health and Human Services would issue guidelines for school inspections, and the inspector would file a report with the department within 14 days after the inspection. The report would list any health and safety violations, including a recalled or defective fixture or piece of furniture, along with action to be taken to correct the violation. Within 14 days after the inspection report, proof of any required corrective action would also be submitted to the DHHS.

Additionally, a school or district would be required to publish the inspection report on its website.

HB 4167 is also known as “Lilliana’s Law,” in memory of a Michigan girl who was tragically killed in 2017 by a table that fell on her at preschool. The table had been recalled and should have been removed a decade prior.

Tabitha Kerr, Lilliana’s mother, joined Berman to testify today.

“They say it takes a village to raise a child, and we need to come together as that village,” Kerr said. “You have the capabilities to genuinely protect our children.”

“I am grateful to the committee chair for taking up this proposal once again,” Berman said. “Our children deserve to be safe at school, and I encourage committee members to advance this bill to the House floor.”

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