By state Rep. Ryan Berman of Commerce Township

As my first term in the Michigan House continues, I’m proud to sponsor a proposal that requires the Department of Health and Human Services to set clear health and safety inspection guidelines for all public and private schools in our state.

I am moved by the story of 3-year-old Lilliana Kerr, who was tragically killed by a falling folding table in 2017. The table had been a recalled version that was supposed to be removed, but wasn’t.

School safety should be a priority issue for both sides of the aisle. While ‘Lilliana’s Law’ recently advanced from the House Education Committee, it did not do so overwhelmingly, and appears to be swimming upstream against the flow of politics as usual.

There have been several misconceptions related to House Bill 4739. Perhaps the biggest is the view that it is an unfunded mandate. With precedent from the governor to veto any policy measures with funding attached, I felt it was best to craft the legislation in this fashion. We appropriated more than $15 billion to K-12 schools statewide this year and the cost of these inspections have been estimated to be around $500,000 collectively. This total is a drop in the proverbial bucket.

The timeline for action required by this proposal has also been questioned. Our proposal allows 14 days to report an inspection’s findings back to DHHS from when it took place, along with a notice of any violations so we can work to correct hazardous environments for our children. Corrective work does not need to be completed or bid out by the end of the 14-day window, so this timeframe should not be viewed as too constrictive. Liability also won’t change from how it is assigned currently, and the reforms are an added safety layer separate from inspections other departments may be tasked with.

The contention I have taken most personally is the notion this legislation would not have helped Lilliana. Why should that curtail us from trying to help other students avoid harm or death while at school? While there is nothing in this plan reprimanding schools for not completing work an inspection deems is needed, it would at least make communities and people more aware of a facility’s condition as parents decide who to entrust with their child for the majority of their day.

The core function of schools is to promote the education of our children while ensuring their well-being. This bill works to protect those values, as we forge improved standards for accountability and transparency.

State Rep. Ryan Berman, of Commerce Township, serves residents in the 39th District, which includes the city of Wixom, Commerce Township, a portion of West Bloomfield Township and the village of Wolverine Lake.