Michigan Senate approves firearm locks in daycare centers
Lansing – Daycare centers in Michigan may soon be allowed to install temporary locking mechanisms at all entrances, just like K-12 schools, to prevent a gunman from breaking into their building.
Senate Bill 906 would allow child care centers or daycare facilities to install temporary locking systems on doors designed to prevent hostile individuals, such as active shooters, from entering a building. Senate Bills 907 and 908 would amend bills that previously banned these systems to allow the system to be installed.
On Thursday, the Michigan State Senate voted 38-0 to send the three bills to the House of Representatives.
“We live in a world where school shootings are becoming more common. Our laws must reflect that,” said Senator Jeremy Moss, Democrat of the 7th District, one of the bill’s sponsors. “Existing laws are generally not enough to address this epidemic of gun violence. That’s why we need to keep addressing these incidents across the country and especially here in Michigan.”
In March 2020, a law was passed allowing educational institutions to use these locking systems on doors, but it was not clear whether the law also applies to institutions whose primary purpose is child care.
Robert Mass, legislative director of the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential, testified before a committee on June 11 that child care centers had attempted to install the locks but were prevented from doing so by existing fire codes that had not yet been lifted for their facilities.
The draft legislation also outlines additional steps that vendors must take when installing the locking systems, such as submitting an emergency plan and building plans to the local fire department.
Jared Rodriguez, executive director of the Child Care Providers Association of Michigan, who is neutral on the bill, said the bill does not require child care facilities to install the locks. Use of the locking systems would remain optional, he said.
“We want to encourage our members to do whatever they feel is right to make sure their employees and most importantly the children are as safe as possible,” Rodriguez said. “And if they want to install one of these systems, they have to follow the guidelines that are now being issued by the state.”
The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential, which licenses child care providers, supports the bill, said Emily Laidlaw, deputy director of MiLEAP’s office of early childhood education.
“MiLEAP remains focused on our goal of providing Michigan families with access to safe, high-quality child care that meets their needs,” Laidlaw said. “We support Senate Bills 906 through 908 to ensure that all child care providers have access to equipment that can protect children in the unfortunate event of an emergency.”
Rodriguez is not sure how many privately run daycare centers will install the locks.
“I don’t know what the requirements are, but I would suggest that this be done on a personal or company-wide basis,” Rodriguez said.
Even if the bill passes, some daycare centers will choose not to install the system.
Lindsey Potter, owner of Bright Light Early Care and Education, said that while she supports the bill, it will not affect her Battle Creek daycare center because it has chosen other safety measures.
“This does not meet our needs at this time as our traffic patterns and the culture of our center are more connected and open and therefore security measures of this type are not necessary,” Potter said.
Privately run daycare centers should have the opportunity to choose safety options that meet their individual needs, Potter said.
“We hope there will continue to be choice and flexibility, rather than an obligation to meet expectations that are not met,” Potter said.
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