SB-1156, As Passed Senate, December 9, 2004                                 

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                           HOUSE SUBSTITUTE FOR                                 

                                                                                

                           SENATE BILL NO. 1156                                 

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                 A bill to amend 1999 PA 94, entitled                                              

                                                                                

    "Michigan merit award scholarship act,"                                     

                                                                                

    by amending sections 2, 6, 7, 8, and 9 (MCL 390.1452, 390.1456,             

                                                                                

    390.1457, 390.1458, and 390.1459), sections 2 and 7 as amended by           

                                                                                

    2002 PA 736, section 6 as amended by 2002 PA 537, and section 8             

                                                                                

    as amended by 2004 PA 69, and by adding sections 7a and 7b.                 

                                                                                

                THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:                      

                                                                                

1       Sec. 2.  As used in this act:                                               

                                                                                

2       (a) "Approved postsecondary educational institution" means                  

                                                                                

3   any of the following:                                                       

                                                                                

4                                                                                (i) A degree or certificate granting public or private                              

                                                                                

5   college or university, junior college, or community college.                

                                                                                

6       (ii) A service academy.                                                      

                                                                                

7       (iii) An educational institution, other than an educational                  

                                                                                

8   institution described in subparagraph (i) or (ii), granting                  

                                                                                


                                                                                

1   degrees, certificates, or other recognized credentials and                  

                                                                                

2   designated by the board as an approved postsecondary educational            

                                                                                

3   institution.                                                                

                                                                                

4       (iv) A program of an educational institution, other than an                  

                                                                                

5   educational institution described in subparagraph (i) or (ii),               

                                                                                

6   granting degrees, certificates, or other recognized credentials             

                                                                                

7   and designated by the board as an approved postsecondary                    

                                                                                

8   educational institution.                                                    

                                                                                

9       (b) "Assessment test" means the  Michigan education                         

                                                                                

10  assessment program (MEAP) subject area assessments or any                   

                                                                                

11  successor assessment test designated by the board  middle school            

                                                                                

12  assessment test, the high school assessment test, or the Michigan           

                                                                                

13  merit examination.                                                          

                                                                                

14      (c) "Board" means the Michigan merit award board established                

                                                                                

15  in this act.                                                                

                                                                                

16      (d) "Department of career development" means the department                 

                                                                                

17  of career development created in Executive Order No. 1999-1.                

                                                                                

18      (e) "Eligible costs" means tuition and fees charged by an                   

                                                                                

19  approved postsecondary educational institution; related costs for           

                                                                                

20  room, board, books, supplies, transportation, or day care; and              

                                                                                

21  other costs determined by the board.                                        

                                                                                

22      (f) "Fiscal year" means the fiscal year of this state.                      

                                                                                

23      (g) "High school assessment test" means the state assessments               

                                                                                

24  described in section 1279 of the revised school code, 1976 PA               

                                                                                

25  451, MCL 380.1279, and section 104a of the state school aid act,            

                                                                                

26  1979 PA 94, MCL 388.1704a.                                                  

                                                                                

27      (h)  (g)  "Michigan merit award scholarship" means a                        


                                                                                

1   scholarship awarded by the board under section 7 or 7a.                     

                                                                                

2       (i) "Michigan merit examination" means the Michigan merit                   

                                                                                

3   examination described in section 1279g of the revised school                

                                                                                

4   code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.1279g, and section 104b of the state             

                                                                                

5   school aid act of 1979, 1979 PA 94, MCL 388.1704b.                          

                                                                                

6       (j) "Middle school assessment test" means the Michigan                      

                                                                                

7   education assessment program (MEAP) subject area assessments                

                                                                                

8   given in grades 7 and 8 or any successor assessment test                    

                                                                                

9   designated by the board.                                                    

                                                                                

10      (k)  (h)  "Qualifying results" means assessment test results,               

                                                                                

11  scores, or ranges of scores determined by the board that qualify            

                                                                                

12  a  student  pupil for a Michigan merit award scholarship under              

                                                                                

13  section 7 or 7a.                                                            

                                                                                

14                                                                               (l)  (i)  "Service academy" means the United States military                         

                                                                                

15  academy, United States naval academy, United States air force               

                                                                                

16  academy, United States coast guard academy, or United States                

                                                                                

17  merchant marine academy.                                                    

                                                                                

18      (m)  (j)  "State board" means the state board of education.                 

                                                                                

19      (n)  (k)  "Superintendent" means the superintendent of public               

                                                                                

20  instruction.                                                                

                                                                                

21      (o)  (l)  "Tobacco settlement revenue" means money received                 

                                                                                

22  by this state that is attributable to the master settlement                 

                                                                                

23  agreement incorporated into a consent decree and final judgment             

                                                                                

24  entered on December 7, 1998 in Kelley Ex Rel. Michigan v Philip             

                                                                                

25  Morris Incorporated, et al., Ingham county circuit court, docket            

                                                                                

26  no. 96-84281CZ.                                                             

                                                                                

27      (p)  (m)  "Trust fund" means the Michigan merit award trust                 


                                                                                

1   fund established in section 3.                                              

                                                                                

2       Sec. 6.  (1) The board shall conduct business in compliance                 

                                                                                

3   with the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.              

                                                                                

4   The board shall give public notice of the time, date, and place             

                                                                                

5   of meetings of the board in the manner required by the open                 

                                                                                

6   meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.                            

                                                                                

7       (2) The board shall meet not less than annually and shall                   

                                                                                

8   keep a record of its proceedings.  The board shall make any                 

                                                                                

9   writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained            

                                                                                

10  by the board in the performance of an official function available           

                                                                                

11  to the public in compliance with the freedom of information act,            

                                                                                

12  1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.                                          

                                                                                

13      (3) Except as provided in subsection (4), the board shall                   

                                                                                

14  obtain and make available to the public all of the qualifying               

                                                                                

15  questions and answers, along with the corresponding answer key,             

                                                                                

16  to a high school assessment test or a middle school assessment              

                                                                                

17  tests  test administered  during the spring of the preceding               

                                                                                

18  school year not later than September 1  at least 3 and not more             

                                                                                

19  than 5 years earlierThe board shall obtain and make available            

                                                                                

20  to the public preparatory materials for the Michigan merit                  

                                                                                

21  examination that contain sample test questions and correct                  

                                                                                

22  answers.                                                                    

                                                                                

23      (4) If any question  will be used  is designated by the state               

                                                                                

24  board of education for use in a future high school assessment               

                                                                                

25  test or middle school assessment test for validity purposes, the            

                                                                                

26  board may elect not to make that question and the answer                    

                                                                                

27  available to the public under subsection (3) for a period of up             


                                                                                

1   to 2 years from the date the assessment test that first includes            

                                                                                

2   the question is administered.                                               

                                                                                

3       (5) By December 1 of each year, the board shall submit a                    

                                                                                

4   report on its activities to the governor and to the legislature.            

                                                                                

5   The report shall contain all of the following information:                  

                                                                                

6       (a) A list of approved postsecondary educational institutions               

                                                                                

7   for the current and immediately preceding fiscal years.                     

                                                                                

8       (b) The number of Michigan merit award scholarships awarded                 

                                                                                

9   and the total amount of Michigan merit award scholarship money              

                                                                                

10  paid in the immediately preceding fiscal year.                              

                                                                                

11      (c) A projection of revenues and expenditures from the trust                

                                                                                

12  fund for the current fiscal year and the next 10 fiscal years.              

                                                                                

13      (d) The dollar amount of the Michigan merit award                           

                                                                                

14  scholarships available under  section 7(2) and (3)  sections 7              

                                                                                

15  and 7a in the current fiscal year, the amount of any adjustments            

                                                                                

16  to the dollar amount under  section 7(5)  sections 7(4) and 7a(2)           

                                                                                

17  from the beginning of the immediately preceding fiscal year, and            

                                                                                

18  any adjustments to the dollar amount projected for the remainder            

                                                                                

19  of the current fiscal year or for the next fiscal year.                     

                                                                                

20      (e) All of the following results, scores, or ranges of                      

                                                                                

21  scores:                                                                     

                                                                                

22                                                                               (i) Used as qualifying results in the immediately preceding                         

                                                                                

23  fiscal year.                                                                

                                                                                

24      (ii) Determined by the board as qualifying results in the                    

                                                                                

25  current fiscal year.                                                        

                                                                                

26      (iii) Projected by the board as qualifying results for the                   

                                                                                

27  next fiscal year.                                                           


                                                                                

1       (f) For the immediately preceding fiscal year, the number of                

                                                                                

2   students  pupils who took the assessment tests, the number of              

                                                                                

3   students  pupils by subject area who received qualifying                   

                                                                                

4   results, the number of graduating high school seniors who met the           

                                                                                

5   requirements for a Michigan merit award scholarship, and the                

                                                                                

6   total number of  students  pupils who met the requirements for a            

                                                                                

7   Michigan merit award scholarship.                                           

                                                                                

8       (g) The number of persons participating in and the amount                   

                                                                                

9   awarded in the immediately preceding fiscal year under the                  

                                                                                

10  tuition incentive program described in section 310 of  2002 PA              

                                                                                

11  144  2003 PA 144 or a successor to that program.                            

                                                                                

12      (6) At least 60 days before changing the results, scores, or                

                                                                                

13  ranges of scores used as qualifying results, the board shall                

                                                                                

14  provide written notice of its intent to change the results,                 

                                                                                

15  scores, or ranges of scores used as qualifying results, and a               

                                                                                

16  report explaining the board's decision to change the results,               

                                                                                

17  scores, or ranges of scores used as qualifying results, to the              

                                                                                

18  standing committees of the senate and the house of                          

                                                                                

19  representatives that have primary jurisdiction over legislation             

                                                                                

20  pertaining to education.  The standing committees shall review              

                                                                                

21  the board's report and may hold hearings on the board's                     

                                                                                

22  decision.                                                                   

                                                                                

23      Sec. 7.  (1) The Michigan merit award scholarship program is                

                                                                                

24  established.  The board shall administer the Michigan merit award           

                                                                                

25  scholarship program.                                                        

                                                                                

26      (2) Subject to subsection (6) and section 7b(2) and (5), and                

                                                                                

27  to adjustment under subsection (4), each student enrolled in                


                                                                                

1   grade 11 in or after the 1998-1999 school year and before the               

                                                                                

2   2006-2007 school year who meets the requirements of  subsection             

                                                                                

3   (4), and subject to adjustment under subsection (5),  section               

                                                                                

4   7b(1) is eligible for the award of a $2,500.00 Michigan merit               

                                                                                

5   award scholarship if the student is enrolled in an approved                 

                                                                                

6   postsecondary educational institution in this state or in a                 

                                                                                

7   service academy, or the award of a $1,000.00 Michigan merit award           

                                                                                

8   scholarship if the student is enrolled in an approved                       

                                                                                

9   postsecondary educational institution outside this state other              

                                                                                

10  than a service academy, if the board finds that the student while           

                                                                                

11  in high school has taken the high school assessment test in the             

                                                                                

12  subject areas of reading, writing, mathematics, and science and             

                                                                                

13  meets 1 of the following:                                                   

                                                                                

14      (a) Has received qualifying results in each of the subject                  

                                                                                

15  areas of reading, writing, mathematics, and science.                        

                                                                                

16      (b) Did not receive qualifying results in 1 or 2 of the                     

                                                                                

17  subject areas of reading, writing, mathematics, and science, but            

                                                                                

18  received an overall score in the top 25% of a nationally                    

                                                                                

19  recognized college admission examination.                                   

                                                                                

20      (c) Did not receive qualifying results in 1 or 2 of the                     

                                                                                

21  subject areas of reading, writing, mathematics, and science, but            

                                                                                

22  received a qualifying score or scores as determined by the board            

                                                                                

23  on a nationally recognized job skills assessment test designated            

                                                                                

24  by the board.                                                               

                                                                                

25      (3) Subject to subsection (6) and to adjustment under                       

                                                                                

26  subsection (5), a student who was enrolled in grade 7 in or after           

                                                                                

27  the 1999-2000 school year and who the board finds has taken the             


                                                                                

1   assessment test in each of the subject areas while in grades 7              

                                                                                

2   and 8 is eligible for 1 of the following additional Michigan                

                                                                                

3   merit award scholarships:                                                   

                                                                                

4       (a) If the board finds that the student while in grades 7 and               

                                                                                

5   8 received qualifying results in 2 of the subject areas of                  

                                                                                

6   reading, writing, mathematics, and science, an additional                   

                                                                                

7   Michigan merit award scholarship of $250.00.                                

                                                                                

8       (b) If the board finds that the student while in grades 7 and               

                                                                                

9   8 received qualifying results in 3 of the subject areas of                  

                                                                                

10  reading, writing, mathematics, and science, an additional                   

                                                                                

11  Michigan merit award scholarship of $375.00.                                

                                                                                

12      (c) If the board finds that the student while in grades 7 and               

                                                                                

13  8 received qualifying results in all of the subject areas of                

                                                                                

14  reading, writing, mathematics, and science, an additional                   

                                                                                

15  Michigan merit award scholarship of $500.00.                                

                                                                                

16      (4) In addition to the requirements set forth in subsections                

                                                                                

17  (2) and (3), to be eligible for the award of 1 or both Michigan             

                                                                                

18  merit award scholarships under this section, the board must find            

                                                                                

19  that a student satisfies all of the following:                              

                                                                                

20      (a) The student has graduated from high school or passed the                

                                                                                

21  general educational development (GED) test or other graduate                

                                                                                

22  equivalency examination approved by the state board.                        

                                                                                

23      (b) The student graduated from high school or passed the                    

                                                                                

24  general educational development (GED) test or other graduate                

                                                                                

25  equivalency examination approved by the state board within 1 of             

                                                                                

26  the following time periods:                                                 

                                                                                

27                                                                               (i) If the student graduated from high school or passed the                         


                                                                                

1   test or examination before March 1, 2002, within the 7-year                 

                                                                                

2   period preceding the student's application to receive his or her            

                                                                                

3   Michigan merit award scholarship money.                                     

                                                                                

4       (ii) If the student graduated on or after March 1, 2002,                     

                                                                                

5   within the 4-year period preceding the date of the student's                

                                                                                

6   application to receive his or her Michigan merit award                      

                                                                                

7   scholarship money, or if the student becomes a member of the                

                                                                                

8   United States armed forces or peace corps during this 4-year                

                                                                                

9   period and serves for 4 years or less, the 4-year period is                 

                                                                                

10  extended by a period equal to the number of days the student                

                                                                                

11  served as a member of the United States armed forces or peace               

                                                                                

12  corps.  The board may also extend the 4-year period if the board            

                                                                                

13  determines that an extension is warranted because of an illness             

                                                                                

14  or disability of the student or in the student's immediate family           

                                                                                

15  or another family emergency.                                                

                                                                                

16      (c) The student is enrolled in an approved postsecondary                    

                                                                                

17  educational institution.  For students who qualify under                    

                                                                                

18  subsection (2)(c), the student is enrolled in a vocational or               

                                                                                

19  technical education program at an approved postsecondary                    

                                                                                

20  educational institution.                                                    

                                                                                

21      (d) The student has not been convicted of a felony involving                

                                                                                

22  an assault, physical injury, or death.                                      

                                                                                

23      (e) The student satisfies any additional eligibility                        

                                                                                

24  requirements established by the board.                                      

                                                                                

25      (3) Subject to subsection (6) and section 7b(5) and to                      

                                                                                

26  adjustment under subsection (4), each student enrolled in grade             

                                                                                

27  11 in or after the 2006-2007 school year who meets the                      


                                                                                

1   requirements of section 7b(1) is eligible for the award of a                

                                                                                

2   $2,500.00 Michigan merit award scholarship if the student is                

                                                                                

3   enrolled in an approved postsecondary educational institution in            

                                                                                

4   this state or in a service academy, or the award of a $1,000.00             

                                                                                

5   Michigan merit award scholarship if the student is enrolled in an           

                                                                                

6   approved postsecondary educational institution outside this state           

                                                                                

7   other than a service academy, if the board finds that the student           

                                                                                

8   while in high school has taken the Michigan merit examination and           

                                                                                

9   meets 1 of the following:                                                   

                                                                                

10      (a) Has received qualifying results in each of the subject                  

                                                                                

11  area components of the Michigan merit examination.                          

                                                                                

12      (b) Did not receive qualifying results in each of the subject               

                                                                                

13  area components of the Michigan merit examination, but received             

                                                                                

14  an overall score in the top 25% of a nationally recognized                  

                                                                                

15  college admission examination.                                              

                                                                                

16      (c) Did not receive qualifying results in each of the subject               

                                                                                

17  area components of the Michigan merit examination, but received a           

                                                                                

18  qualifying score or scores as determined by the board on a                  

                                                                                

19  nationally recognized job skills assessment test designated by              

                                                                                

20  the board.                                                                  

                                                                                

21      (4)  (5)  In any fiscal year, the board may adjust the amount               

                                                                                

22  of a Michigan merit award scholarship available to students                 

                                                                                

23  eligible under 1 or more of subsections (2), (3), and  (9)  (5),            

                                                                                

24  based upon its determination of available resources and amounts             

                                                                                

25  appropriated, but the board shall not increase an amount by more            

                                                                                

26  than 5% in any fiscal year.  The board shall notify the governor,           

                                                                                

27  the speaker of the house of representatives, and the majority               


                                                                                

1   leader of the senate in writing at least 30 days before an                  

                                                                                

2   adjustment under this subsection.                                           

                                                                                

3       (6) For assessment tests administered after January 1, 2000,                

                                                                                

4   the board shall not use the assessment test to determine                    

                                                                                

5   eligibility for a Michigan merit award scholarship under this               

                                                                                

6   section for a particular year unless the board has reviewed and             

                                                                                

7   approved the assessment test before it was administered for that            

                                                                                

8   year.                                                                       

                                                                                

9       (7) The board shall provide each student written notice of                  

                                                                                

10  whether or not the student is eligible for the award of 1 or more           

                                                                                

11  Michigan merit award scholarships described in this section.  If            

                                                                                

12  the student is eligible, the written notice shall also contain              

                                                                                

13  the Michigan merit award scholarship amount for which the student           

                                                                                

14  is eligible, how the student applies for payment of Michigan                

                                                                                

15  merit award scholarship, and any other information the board                

                                                                                

16  considers necessary regarding qualification requirements or                 

                                                                                

17  conditions relating to the use of the Michigan merit award                  

                                                                                

18  scholarship.                                                                

                                                                                

19      (8) It is the intent of the legislature that the level of                   

                                                                                

20  student performance required to achieve qualifying results in a             

                                                                                

21  subject area of an assessment test remains approximately the                

                                                                                

22  same, and that the board not reduce the required level of student           

                                                                                

23  performance as a means of increasing the number of Michigan merit           

                                                                                

24  award scholarships awarded.                                                 

                                                                                

25      (5)  (9)  If a student who has previously received a                        

                                                                                

26  $1,000.00 Michigan merit award scholarship under this section as            

                                                                                

27  a student enrolled in an approved postsecondary educational                 


                                                                                

1   institution outside of this state other than a service academy              

                                                                                

2   enrolls in an approved postsecondary educational institution in             

                                                                                

3   this state and meets the requirements of  subsection (4)  section           

                                                                                

4   7b(1), and subject to adjustment under subsection  (5)  (4), the            

                                                                                

5   student is eligible for the award of an additional $1,500.00                

                                                                                

6   Michigan merit award scholarship.                                           

                                                                                

7       (10) A pupil who does not initially receive qualifying                      

                                                                                

8   results shall be extended an opportunity to achieve the requisite           

                                                                                

9   qualifying results by taking a subsequent assessment test.                  

                                                                                

10      (11) A nonpublic school student or home school student may                  

                                                                                

11  take, and the board shall administer if requested, an assessment            

                                                                                

12  test at a site designated by the board.                                     

                                                                                

13      (6) If the United States department of education has not                    

                                                                                

14  approved the use of the Michigan merit examination for the                  

                                                                                

15  purposes of the federal no child left behind act of 2001, Public            

                                                                                

16  Law 107-110, by December 31, 2006, all of the following apply:              

                                                                                

17      (a) Eligibility for a Michigan merit award scholarship under                

                                                                                

18  this section shall be determined under subsection (2) until the             

                                                                                

19  next calendar year that begins after that approval occurs.                  

                                                                                

20      (b) Eligibility for a Michigan merit award scholarship under                

                                                                                

21  this section shall be determined under subsection (3) beginning             

                                                                                

22  in the next calendar year that begins after that approval occurs.           

                                                                                

23      Sec. 7a.  (1) Subject to section 7b(2) and to adjustment                    

                                                                                

24  under subsection (2), a student who was enrolled in grade 7 in or           

                                                                                

25  after the 1999-2000 school year, who meets the requirements of              

                                                                                

26  section 7b(1), and who the board finds has taken the middle                 

                                                                                

27  school assessment test in each of the subject areas while in                


                                                                                

1   grades 7 and 8 is eligible for 1 of the following Michigan merit            

                                                                                

2   award scholarships:                                                         

                                                                                

3       (a) If the board finds that the student while in grades 7 and               

                                                                                

4   8 received qualifying results in 2 of the subject areas of                  

                                                                                

5   reading, writing, mathematics, and science, a Michigan merit                

                                                                                

6   award scholarship of $250.00.                                               

                                                                                

7       (b) If the board finds that the student while in grades 7 and               

                                                                                

8   8 received qualifying results in 3 of the subject areas of                  

                                                                                

9   reading, writing, mathematics, and science, a Michigan merit                

                                                                                

10  award scholarship of $375.00.                                               

                                                                                

11      (c) If the board finds that the student while in grades 7 and               

                                                                                

12  8 received qualifying results in all of the subject areas of                

                                                                                

13  reading, writing, mathematics, and science, a Michigan merit                

                                                                                

14  award scholarship of $500.00.                                               

                                                                                

15      (2) In any fiscal year, the board may adjust the amount of a                

                                                                                

16  Michigan merit award scholarship available to students eligible             

                                                                                

17  under subsection (1) based upon its determination of available              

                                                                                

18  resources and amounts appropriated, but the board shall not                 

                                                                                

19  increase an amount by more than 5% in any fiscal year.  The board           

                                                                                

20  shall notify the governor, the speaker of the house of                      

                                                                                

21  representatives, and the majority leader of the senate in writing           

                                                                                

22  at least 30 days before an adjustment under this subsection.                

                                                                                

23      Sec. 7b.  (1) In addition to the requirements set forth in                  

                                                                                

24  section 7(2) or (3) or section 7a(1), to be eligible for the                

                                                                                

25  award of a Michigan merit award scholarship under this act, the             

                                                                                

26  board must find that a student satisfies all of the following:              

                                                                                

27      (a) The student has graduated from high school or passed the                


                                                                                

1   general educational development (GED) test or other graduate                

                                                                                

2   equivalency examination approved by the state board.                        

                                                                                

3       (b) The student graduated from high school or passed the                    

                                                                                

4   general educational development (GED) test or other graduate                

                                                                                

5   equivalency examination approved by the state board within 1 of             

                                                                                

6   the following time periods:                                                 

                                                                                

7                                                                                (i) If the student graduated from high school or passed the                         

                                                                                

8   test or examination before March 1, 2002, within the 7-year                 

                                                                                

9   period preceding the student's application to receive his or her            

                                                                                

10  Michigan merit award scholarship money.                                     

                                                                                

11      (ii) If the student graduated on or after March 1, 2002,                     

                                                                                

12  within the 4-year period preceding the date of the student's                

                                                                                

13  application to receive his or her Michigan merit award                      

                                                                                

14  scholarship money, or if the student becomes a member of the                

                                                                                

15  United States armed forces or peace corps during this 4-year                

                                                                                

16  period and serves for 4 years or less, the 4-year period is                 

                                                                                

17  extended by a period equal to the number of days the student                

                                                                                

18  served as a member of the United States armed forces or peace               

                                                                                

19  corps.  The board may also extend the 4-year period if the board            

                                                                                

20  determines that an extension is warranted because of an illness             

                                                                                

21  or disability of the student or in the student's immediate family           

                                                                                

22  or another family emergency.                                                

                                                                                

23      (c) The student is enrolled in an approved postsecondary                    

                                                                                

24  educational institution.  For students who qualify under section            

                                                                                

25  7(2)(c), the student is enrolled in a vocational or technical               

                                                                                

26  education program at an approved postsecondary educational                  

                                                                                

27  institution.                                                                


                                                                                

1       (d) The student has not been convicted of a felony involving                

                                                                                

2   an assault, physical injury, or death.                                      

                                                                                

3       (e) The student satisfies any additional eligibility                        

                                                                                

4   requirements established by the board.                                      

                                                                                

5       (2) For a middle school assessment test or high school                      

                                                                                

6   assessment test administered after January 1, 2000, the board               

                                                                                

7   shall not use that assessment test to determine eligibility for a           

                                                                                

8   Michigan merit award scholarship under this section for a                   

                                                                                

9   particular year unless the board has reviewed and approved that             

                                                                                

10  assessment test before it was administered for that year.                   

                                                                                

11      (3) The board shall provide each pupil written notice of                    

                                                                                

12  whether or not the pupil is eligible for the award of 1 or more             

                                                                                

13  Michigan merit award scholarships described in this act.  If the            

                                                                                

14  pupil is eligible, the written notice shall also contain the                

                                                                                

15  Michigan merit award scholarship amount for which the pupil is              

                                                                                

16  eligible, how the pupil applies for payment of Michigan merit               

                                                                                

17  award scholarship, and any other information the board considers            

                                                                                

18  necessary regarding qualification requirements or conditions                

                                                                                

19  relating to the use of the Michigan merit award scholarship.                

                                                                                

20      (4) It is the intent of the legislature that the level of                   

                                                                                

21  pupil performance required to achieve qualifying results in a               

                                                                                

22  subject area of an assessment test remains approximately the                

                                                                                

23  same, and that the board not reduce the required level of pupil             

                                                                                

24  performance as a means of increasing the number of Michigan merit           

                                                                                

25  award scholarships awarded.                                                 

                                                                                

26      (5) A pupil who does not initially receive qualifying results               

                                                                                

27  shall be extended an opportunity to achieve the requisite                   


                                                                                

1   qualifying results by taking a subsequent assessment test.  A               

                                                                                

2   pupil described in this subsection who is enrolled in grade 12 in           

                                                                                

3   the 2006-2007 school year, or enrolled in grade 12 in the first             

                                                                                

4   calendar year after the approval described in section 7(6) occurs           

                                                                                

5   if that subsection applies, may elect either of the following:              

                                                                                

6       (a) To take the high school assessment test for the purpose                 

                                                                                

7   of qualifying for a Michigan merit award scholarship under                  

                                                                                

8   section 7(2).                                                               

                                                                                

9       (b) To take the Michigan merit examination for the purpose of               

                                                                                

10  qualifying for a Michigan merit award scholarship under section             

                                                                                

11  7(3).                                                                       

                                                                                

12      (6) A nonpublic school pupil or home school pupil may take,                 

                                                                                

13  and the board shall administer if requested, an assessment test             

                                                                                

14  at a site designated by the board.                                          

                                                                                

15      Sec. 8.  (1) Michigan merit award scholarship money shall be                

                                                                                

16  used only to pay for eligible costs.                                        

                                                                                

17      (2) The board shall determine the manner and form of                        

                                                                                

18  application for payment of a Michigan merit award scholarship by            

                                                                                

19  a student eligible under  section 7  this act and the procedure             

                                                                                

20  for payment to the student or to an approved postsecondary                  

                                                                                

21  educational institution on the student's behalf, subject to 1 of            

                                                                                

22  the following, as applicable:                                               

                                                                                

23      (a) As determined by the board, upon the request of a student               

                                                                                

24  or parent or legal guardian of a minor student, the board may pay           

                                                                                

25  a Michigan merit award scholarship in 2 consecutive annual                  

                                                                                

26  installments rather than 1 lump sum for a student who graduates             

                                                                                

27  from high school or passes the general educational development              


                                                                                

1   (GED) test or approved graduate equivalency examination before              

                                                                                

2   March 1, 2003.                                                              

                                                                                

3       (b) For each student who graduates from high school or passes               

                                                                                

4   the general educational development (GED) test or approved                  

                                                                                

5   graduate equivalency examination on or after March 1, 2003 and              

                                                                                

6   before March 1, 2004, the board shall pay a Michigan merit award            

                                                                                

7   scholarship in 2 consecutive annual installments, beginning in              

                                                                                

8   the state fiscal year for which the student is otherwise                    

                                                                                

9   eligible.  under section 7.  The first installment shall not                

                                                                                

10  exceed 50% of the award amount, and the second installment shall            

                                                                                

11  consist of the remaining award amount.  Verification that the               

                                                                                

12  student has met the enrollment criteria under section  7(4)(c)              

                                                                                

13  7b(1)(c) is required  prior to issuance  before payment of the              

                                                                                

14  second installment.                                                         

                                                                                

15      (c) For each student who graduates from high school or passes               

                                                                                

16  the general educational development (GED) test or approved                  

                                                                                

17  graduate equivalency examination on or after March 1, 2004, the             

                                                                                

18  board shall pay a Michigan merit award scholarship in 2                     

                                                                                

19  consecutive annual installments, beginning in the state fiscal              

                                                                                

20  year that begins after the beginning of the academic year for               

                                                                                

21  which the student is otherwise eligible.  under section 7.  The             

                                                                                

22  first installment shall not exceed 50% of the award amount, and             

                                                                                

23  the second installment shall consist of the remaining award                 

                                                                                

24  amount.  Verification that the student has met the enrollment               

                                                                                

25  criteria under section  7(4)(c)  7b(1)(c) is required  prior to             

                                                                                

26  issuance  before payment of the second installment.                         

                                                                                

27      (3) An approved postsecondary educational institution shall                 


                                                                                

1   not consider a Michigan merit award scholarship in determining a            

                                                                                

2   student's eligibility for a financial aid program administered by           

                                                                                

3   this state.  It is the intent of the legislature that an approved           

                                                                                

4   postsecondary educational institution not reduce                            

                                                                                

5   institutionally-funded student aid because of the Michigan merit            

                                                                                

6   award scholarship program.                                                  

                                                                                

7       (4) Before payment of a Michigan merit award scholarship to a               

                                                                                

8   student or an approved postsecondary educational institution, the           

                                                                                

9   student shall certify or affirm in writing to the board each of             

                                                                                

10  the following:                                                              

                                                                                

11      (a) That the student is enrolled at an approved postsecondary               

                                                                                

12  educational institution.                                                    

                                                                                

13      (b) The name of the approved postsecondary educational                      

                                                                                

14  institution in which the student is enrolled.                               

                                                                                

15      (c) That the student agrees to use the Michigan merit award                 

                                                                                

16  scholarship only for eligible costs.                                        

                                                                                

17      (d) That the student has not been convicted of a felony                     

                                                                                

18  involving an assault, physical injury, or death.                            

                                                                                

19      (e) That the student graduated from high school or passed the               

                                                                                

20  general educational development (GED) test or approved graduate             

                                                                                

21  equivalency examination within 1 of the following time periods:             

                                                                                

22                                                                               (i) If the student graduated from high school or passed the                         

                                                                                

23  test or examination before March 1, 2002, within the 7-year                 

                                                                                

24  period preceding the date of the student's application to receive           

                                                                                

25  his or her Michigan merit award scholarship.                                

                                                                                

26      (ii) If the student graduated on or after March 1, 2002,                     

                                                                                

27  within the 4-year period preceding the date of the student's                


                                                                                

1   application to receive his or her Michigan merit award                      

                                                                                

2   scholarship, or within a period equal to 4 years plus the number            

                                                                                

3   of days the student served as a member of the United States armed           

                                                                                

4   forces or peace corps if the student became a member of the                 

                                                                                

5   United States armed forces or peace corps during this 4-year                

                                                                                

6   period and served for 4 years or less.  The board may also extend           

                                                                                

7   the 4-year period if the board determines that an extension is              

                                                                                

8   warranted because of an illness or disability of the student or             

                                                                                

9   in the student's immediate family or another family emergency.              

                                                                                

10      (5) The board shall not begin disbursing funds for a Michigan               

                                                                                

11  merit award scholarship to a student or an approved postsecondary           

                                                                                

12  educational institution on behalf of the student unless it                  

                                                                                

13  receives the request or application for payment, including the              

                                                                                

14  written certification or affirmation described in this section,             

                                                                                

15  from the student on or before 1 of the following dates, for                 

                                                                                

16  disbursement in that academic year:                                         

                                                                                

17      (a) In the 2002-2003 academic year, January 15.                             

                                                                                

18      (b) In the 2003-2004 academic year, September 15 if the                     

                                                                                

19  student received notification of eligibility prior to August 1.             

                                                                                

20      (c) In the 2003-2004 academic year, November 15 if the                      

                                                                                

21  student received notification of eligibility on or after August             

                                                                                

22  1.                                                                          

                                                                                

23      (d) In the 2004-2005 academic year, December 15.                            

                                                                                

24      (e)  (d)  In any other academic year,  October  November 15.                

                                                                                

25      Sec. 9.  The board may promulgate rules pursuant to the                     

                                                                                

26  administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to           

                                                                                

27  24.328, to implement and administer this act, including, but not            


                                                                                

1   limited to, 1 or more of the following:                                     

                                                                                

2       (a) Rules establishing the board's administrative                           

                                                                                

3   procedures.                                                                 

                                                                                

4       (b) Rules governing the qualification requirements for or the               

                                                                                

5   award of Michigan merit award scholarships under this act.                  

                                                                                

6       (c) Rules establishing an appeals process from a                            

                                                                                

7   determination of ineligibility for a Michigan merit award                   

                                                                                

8   scholarship.                                                                

                                                                                

9       (d) Rules establishing what information or reports a student                

                                                                                

10  or postsecondary educational institution must provide to                    

                                                                                

11  establish eligibility and when that information or those reports            

                                                                                

12  must be provided.                                                           

                                                                                

13      (e) Rules prescribing the reports to be made by a student                   

                                                                                

14  awarded 1 or more Michigan merit award scholarships and by a                

                                                                                

15  postsecondary educational institution to which the Michigan merit           

                                                                                

16  award scholarship is paid.                                                  

                                                                                

17      (f) Rules governing assessment test administration and                      

                                                                                

18  addressing cheating on an assessment test.                                  

                                                                                

19      Enacting section 1.  This amendatory act does not take                      

                                                                                

20  effect unless all of the following bills of the 92nd Legislature            

                                                                                

21  are enacted into law:                                                       

                                                                                

22      (a) Senate Bill No. 1153.                                                   

                                                                                

23      (b) Senate Bill No. 1154.                                                   

                                                                                

24      (c) Senate Bill No. 1155.                                                   

                                                                                

25      (d) Senate Bill No. 1157.