PROMISE GRANT: PAYMENT S.B. 600: FLOOR ANALYSIS






Senate Bill 600 (as reported without amendment)
Sponsor: Senator Cameron S. Brown
Committee: Education

CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Promise Grant Act to do the following:

-- Set an annual deadline of November 15 for the Department of Treasury to receive Michigan Promise Grant applications.
-- Require the Department to disburse certain Michigan Promise Grant payments in the fiscal year that began in the academic year when the student was eligible for the grant, and require other payments to be made in the following fiscal year. Under the Act, a student is eligible for a $4,000 grant after completing 50% or more of the academic requirements for a bachelor's degree, earning an associate's degree, or receiving a two-year certificate of completion in a vocational education program. Under the bill, the Department would have to disburse the grant in the State fiscal year beginning on October 1 immediately following the academic year in which the student was eligible for the payment.

A student who passed the reading, writing, math, and science portions of the State assessment test is eligible for a payment of $1,000 toward the full $4,000 grant during each of the student's first two years of postsecondary enrollment. The student may receive the remainder of the grant after completing 50% or more of the academic requirements for a bachelor's degree, earning an associate's degree, or receiving a two-year certificate of completion in a vocational education program.


The bill would require the Department to disburse the two $1,000 payments in the State fiscal year beginning on October 1 in the academic year in which the student was eligible for the installment. The Department would have to disburse the balance in the State fiscal year beginning on the October 1 immediately following the end of the academic year in which the student was eligible for the payment.


MCL 390.1624 & 390.1628 Legislative Analyst: Curtis Walker

FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.


Date Completed: 6-25-07 Fiscal Analyst: Ellen Jeffries

Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. sb600/0708