NAT'L GUARD TUITION ASSISTANCE PROG.                                                     H.B. 6013:

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 6013 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Representative Bruce R. Rendon

House Committee:  Military and Veterans Affairs

Senate Committee:  Veterans, Military Affairs and Homeland Security

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan National Guard Tuition Assistance Act to do the following:

-- Allow the Adjutant General to make a tuition assistance distribution to an eligible person or eligible institution.

-- Delete a provision specifying that the tuition assistance program applies regardless of other educational benefits received by an eligible person.

The Act created the Michigan National Guard tuition assistance program within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA). The Adjutant General must approve an application for tuition assistance if the applicant is an eligible person and there is sufficient money in the Michigan National Guard Tuition Assistance Fund.

The bill specifies that the Adjutant General could make a tuition assistance distribution under the Act to either the eligible person or the eligible education institution, and could determine when the distribution would be made.

The Act defines "eligible person" as a member of the Michigan National Guard who is in active service, is not absent without leave or under charges described in the Michigan Code of Military Justice, and meets any other criteria determined by the Adjutant General consistent with the Michigan National Guard's recruiting and retention requirements. "Eligible educational institution" means a public or private college, university, vocational school, technical school, or trade school located in Michigan.

The tuition assistance program applies to an eligible person notwithstanding any other educational incentive or benefit he or she receives under any other educational assistance program provided by any other law. The bill would delete that provision.

MCL 32.433                                                            Legislative Analyst:  Patrick Affholter

FISCAL IMPACT

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

Date Completed:  12-12-16                                                   Fiscal Analyst:  Bruce Baker

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.