May 21, 2008, Introduced by Reps. Stahl, Agema, Palmer, Amos, Knollenberg, Meltzer, Moss, Hune, Rick Jones, Steil, Moore, Stakoe, Calley, LaJoy, Meekhof, Opsommer, David Law, Nitz, Caul and Marleau and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Investigations.
A bill to amend 1998 PA 541, entitled
"Corrections officer's survivor tuition act,"
by amending section 3 (MCL 390.1263).
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 3. (1) Beginning in the 1998-1999 academic year, and
subject to the limitations in subsections (2), (3), and (4), a
state institution of higher education shall waive tuition for each
child and surviving spouse of a Michigan corrections officer who
has been or is killed in the line of duty if the child or surviving
spouse meets all of the following requirements:
(a) Applies, qualifies, and is admitted as a full-time, part-
time, or summer school student in a program of study leading to a
degree or certificate.
(b) Is a legal resident of the state for at least the 12
consecutive months immediately preceding his or her application.
For an individual who is a dependent of his or her parent,
residency status shall be determined by the parent's residency. For
an individual who is not a dependent, residency status shall be
determined in the same manner as under title IV of the higher
education act of 1965, Public Law 89-329, 79 Stat. 1232.
(c) Is a United States citizen or any other student described
as eligible to receive title IV, HEA program assistance under 34
CFR 668.33.
(d) (c)
Applies to the department for tuition waiver under
this act and provides evidence satisfactory to the department that
he or she is the child or the surviving spouse of a Michigan
corrections officer who was killed in the line of duty, that the
course or courses for which he or she is seeking a tuition waiver
meet the requirements of subsection (2), and that he or she meets
the other requirements of this section.
(e) (d)
For a child of a Michigan corrections officer who was
killed
in the line of duty, applies under subdivision (c) (d) for
the first time before the age of 21.
(f) (e)
Is certified by the financial aid officer at the state
institution of higher education as needing the tuition waiver in
order to meet recognized educational expenses. If the child's or
surviving spouse's family income, excluding any income from death
benefits attributable to the Michigan corrections officer's death,
is below 400% of poverty level under federal poverty guidelines
published by the United States department of health and human
services, income from any death benefits accruing to the child or
surviving spouse as a result of the Michigan corrections officer's
death shall not be counted as family income in determining
financial need under this subdivision.
(g) (f)
Maintains satisfactory academic progress, as defined
by the state institution of higher education, for each term or
semester in which he or she is enrolled. The satisfactory progress
definition used by an institution for federal student assistance
programs under title IV of the higher education act of 1965, Public
Law 89-329, 79 Stat. 1232, is acceptable for the purposes of this
act.
(h) (g)
Has not achieved a bachelor's degree and has received
tuition reimbursement under this act for less than 124 semester
credits or 180 term credits at an institution of higher education.
(2) A state institution of higher education shall waive
tuition under this act only for courses that are applicable toward
the degree or certificate requirements of the program in which the
child or surviving spouse is enrolled.
(3) A child or surviving spouse of a Michigan corrections
officer who was killed in the line of duty is eligible for tuition
waiver under this section for not more than a total of 9 semesters
or the equivalent number of terms or quarters.
(4) Tuition shall be waived only to the extent that the
tuition is not covered or paid by a scholarship, trust fund,
statutory benefit, or another source of tuition coverage available
to the person eligible for a waiver under this act.