Senate Bill 903 Summary

• Establishes the "Postsecondary Student Protection Act" requiring employees and volunteers at Michigan postsecondary educational institutions to immediately report suspected sexual assaults of students to law enforcement.

• Applies to individuals employed in a professional capacity or volunteering to conduct athletic activities at colleges, universities, and community colleges who have reasonable cause to suspect sexual assault occurring at the institution or during institution-sponsored programs or events.

• Requires institutional staff members who report suspected sexual assault to also notify the institution's leadership, though this notification does not eliminate the obligation to report to law enforcement.

• Prohibits institutions from dismissing or penalizing employees or volunteers for making required reports or cooperating in investigations.

• Establishes penalties for willful failure to report: felony with up to 2 years imprisonment or $1,000-$5,000 fine for paid employees; misdemeanor with up to 1 year imprisonment or $1,000 fine for volunteers; second or subsequent offenses are felonies with up to 7 years imprisonment or $15,000 fine.

• Creates civil liability for any individual required to report who fails to do so for damages proximately caused by the failure.

• Takes effect 90 days after enactment, contingent on Senate Bill 904 also being enacted into law.