Legislation requires annual safety inspections at schools

State Rep. Ryan Berman today introduced a bill to require the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to inspect all public and private schools for health and safety violations annually.

The legislation follows the tragic death of 3-year-old Lilliana Kerr, who was struck by an improperly secured folding table at a Wayne County Head Start program in 2017.

“We can easily avoid future tragedies like Lilliana’s by implementing annual inspections,” said Berman, of Commerce Township. “Parents shouldn’t have to worry about their child’s safety when they drop them off at school each day. Our current system failed Lilliana and we shouldn’t just stand by and allow that to happen again.”

Berman’s legislation centers around the idea that schools and institutions should take greater responsibility ensuring health and safety standards are met.

The bill was referred to the House Health Policy Committee.