September 5, 2007, Introduced by Reps. Melton and Condino and referred to the Committee on Education.
A bill to amend 1999 PA 94, entitled
"Michigan merit award scholarship act,"
by amending sections 7b and 8 (MCL 390.1457b and 390.1458), as
amended by 2006 PA 478.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 7b. (1) In addition to the requirements set forth in
section 7(2) or section 7a(1), to be eligible for the award of a
Michigan merit award scholarship under this act, the board must
find that a student satisfies all of the following:
(a) The student has graduated from high school or passed the
general educational development (GED) test or other graduate
equivalency examination approved by the state board.
(b) The student graduated from high school or passed the
general educational development (GED) test or other graduate
equivalency examination approved by the state board within 1 of the
following time periods:
(i) If the student graduated from high school or passed the
test or examination before March 1, 2002, within the 7-year period
preceding the student's application to receive his or her Michigan
merit award scholarship money.
(ii) If Except
as provided in subparagraph (iii), if the
student
graduated from high school on or after March 1, 2002 and before the
2006-2007 school year, within the 4-year period preceding the date
of the student's application to receive his or her Michigan merit
award scholarship money, or if the student becomes a member of the
United States armed forces or peace corps during this 4-year period
and serves for 4 years or less, the 4-year period is extended by a
period equal to the number of days the student served as a member
of the United States armed forces or peace corps. The board may
also extend the 4-year period if the board determines that an
extension is warranted because of an illness or disability of the
student or in the student's immediate family or another family
emergency.
(iii) If the student graduated from high school on or after
March 1, 2002 and before the 2006-2007 school year, and before July
26, 2002 received written notification from the board or the
department of treasury that indicated that he or she had 7 years to
receive his or her Michigan merit award scholarship, within the 7-
year period preceding the date of the student's application to
receive his or her Michigan merit award scholarship money.
(c) The student is enrolled in an approved postsecondary
educational institution. For students who qualify under section
7(2)(c), the student is enrolled in a vocational or technical
education program at an approved postsecondary educational
institution.
(d) The student has not been convicted of a felony involving
an assault, physical injury, or death.
(e) The student satisfies any additional eligibility
requirements established by the board.
(2) For a middle school assessment test or high school
assessment test administered after January 1, 2000, the board shall
not use that assessment test to determine eligibility for a
Michigan merit award scholarship under this section for a
particular year unless the board has reviewed and approved that
assessment test before it was administered for that year.
(3) The board shall provide each pupil written notice of
whether or not the pupil is eligible for the award of 1 or more
Michigan merit award scholarships described in this act. If the
pupil is eligible, the written notice shall also contain the
Michigan merit award scholarship amount for which the pupil is
eligible, how the pupil applies for payment of Michigan merit award
scholarship, and any other information the board considers
necessary regarding qualification requirements or conditions
relating to the use of the Michigan merit award scholarship.
(4) It is the intent of the legislature that the level of
pupil performance required to achieve qualifying results in a
subject area of an assessment test remains approximately the same,
and that the board not reduce the required level of pupil
performance as a means of increasing the number of Michigan merit
award scholarships awarded.
(5) A pupil who does not initially receive qualifying results
shall be extended an opportunity to achieve the requisite
qualifying results by taking a subsequent assessment test.
(6) A nonpublic school pupil or home school pupil may take,
and the board shall administer if requested, an assessment test at
a site designated by the board.
Sec. 8. (1) Michigan merit award scholarship money shall be
used only to pay for eligible costs.
(2) The board shall determine the manner and form of
application for payment of a Michigan merit award scholarship by a
student eligible under this act and the procedure for payment to
the student or to an approved postsecondary educational institution
on the student's behalf, subject to 1 of the following, as
applicable:
(a) As determined by the board, upon the request of a student
or parent or legal guardian of a minor student, the board may pay a
Michigan merit award scholarship in 2 consecutive annual
installments rather than 1 lump sum for a student who graduates
from high school or passes the general educational development
(GED) test or approved graduate equivalency examination before
March 1, 2003.
(b) For each student who graduates from high school or passes
the general educational development (GED) test or approved graduate
equivalency examination on or after March 1, 2003 and before March
1, 2004, the board shall pay a Michigan merit award scholarship in
2 consecutive annual installments, beginning in the state fiscal
year for which the student is otherwise eligible. The first
installment shall not exceed 50% of the award amount, and the
second installment shall consist of the remaining award amount.
Verification that the student has met the enrollment criteria under
section 7b(1)(c) is required before payment of the second
installment.
(c) For each student who graduates from high school or passes
the general educational development (GED) test or approved graduate
equivalency examination on or after March 1, 2004 and before the
2006-2007 school year, the board shall pay a Michigan merit award
scholarship in 2 consecutive annual installments, beginning in the
state fiscal year that begins after the beginning of the academic
year for which the student is otherwise eligible. The first
installment shall not exceed 50% of the award amount, and the
second installment shall consist of the remaining award amount.
Verification that the student has met the enrollment criteria under
section 7b(1)(c) is required before payment of the second
installment.
(3) An approved postsecondary educational institution shall
not consider a Michigan merit award scholarship in determining a
student's eligibility for a financial aid program administered by
this state. It is the intent of the legislature that an approved
postsecondary educational institution not reduce institutionally-
funded student aid because of the Michigan merit award scholarship
program.
(4) Before payment of a Michigan merit award scholarship to a
student or an approved postsecondary educational institution, the
student shall certify or affirm in writing to the board each of the
following:
(a) That the student is enrolled at an approved postsecondary
educational institution.
(b) The name of the approved postsecondary educational
institution in which the student is enrolled.
(c) That the student agrees to use the Michigan merit award
scholarship only for eligible costs.
(d) That the student has not been convicted of a felony
involving an assault, physical injury, or death.
(e) That the student graduated from high school or passed the
general educational development (GED) test or approved graduate
equivalency examination within 1 of the following time periods:
(i) If the student graduated from high school or passed the
test or examination before March 1, 2002, within the 7-year period
preceding the date of the student's application to receive his or
her Michigan merit award scholarship.
(ii) If Except
as provided in subparagraph (iii), if the
student
graduated on or after March 1, 2002 and before the 2006-2007 school
year, within the 4-year period preceding the date of the student's
application to receive his or her Michigan merit award scholarship,
or within a period equal to 4 years plus the number of days the
student served as a member of the United States armed forces or
peace corps if the student became a member of the United States
armed forces or peace corps during this 4-year period and served
for 4 years or less. The board may also extend the 4-year period if
the board determines that an extension is warranted because of an
illness or disability of the student or in the student's immediate
family or another family emergency.
(iii) If the student graduated from high school on or after
March 1, 2002 and before the 2006-2007 school year, and before July
26, 2002 received written notification from the board or the
department of treasury that indicated that he or she had 7 years to
receive his or her Michigan merit award scholarship, within the 7-
year period preceding the date of the student's application to
receive his or her Michigan merit award scholarship.
(5) The board shall not begin disbursing funds for a Michigan
merit award scholarship to a student or an approved postsecondary
educational institution on behalf of the student unless it receives
the request or application for payment, including the written
certification or affirmation described in this section, from the
student on or before 1 of the following dates, for disbursement in
that academic year:
(a) In the 2002-2003 academic year, January 15.
(b) In the 2003-2004 academic year, September 15 if the
student received notification of eligibility prior to August 1.
(c) In the 2003-2004 academic year, November 15 if the student
received notification of eligibility on or after August 1.
(d) In the 2004-2005 academic year, December 15.
(e) In any other academic year, November 15.