The Michigan House Appropriations Subcommittee for State Police today approved a $653.9 million budget that state Rep. Aaron Miller, chair of the panel, said improves public safety for all Michigan families.

Miller, R-Sturgis, said the budget includes funding for a state trooper school that will train 64 men and women to provide law enforcement across the state. The spending plan also includes money for two forensic scientists for the agency. Local governments specifically asked that the forensics positions be a priority.

“We worked closely with all the stakeholders involved and arrived at a fiscally responsible budget that prioritizes public safety throughout Michigan,” Miller said. “We included a one-time expenditure to fund a sexual assault prevention grant to address the ongoing issue of sexual assaults on Michigan campuses.”

Other elements of the proposed budget include:

• Funding to hire nine full-time employees to expand the state police cybercrime division;

• Expanding the Secure Cities Partnership to Benton Harbor, Hamtramck, Harper Woods, Highland Park, Inkster and Muskegon. The program has reduced violent crime in Detroit by 8.1 percent, in Flint by 37.3 percent, in Pontiac by 10.1 percent and in Saginaw by 29.5 percent;

• Establishing a pilot program for Smart 911, which allows people to provide first responders detailed digital information regarding how many individuals and pets live in a home.

The budget now goes to the full House Committee on Appropriations for consideration.