MI HR0221

Declares youth violence in Michigan a public health epidemic, defining it as intentional use of physical force or power by people ages 10 to 24 to threaten or harm others.

Cites CDC data showing 1 in 5 high school students reported being bullied on school property and homicide remains the third leading cause of death for ages 10 to 24, with approximately 13 young people dying daily from homicide nationally.

Notes that 22 percent of Michigan public school students in grades 9-12 reported being bullied on school property or electronically in 2017, and law enforcement agencies have reported increased violent incidents among youth since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Identifies guns as the second leading cause of death among children and teens in Michigan, with an average of 89 children and teens dying by guns annually and 52 percent of these deaths being homicides.

Establishes that youth violence negatively impacts physical and mental health outcomes including higher rates of smoking, substance use, depression, academic difficulty, school dropout, and suicide, while straining community resources and decreasing property values.