Bill Text: MI HB4846 | 2013-2014 | 97th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Higher education; financial aid; early graduation achievement scholarship program; create. Creates new act. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4845'13
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-06-19 - Printed Bill Filed 06/19/2013 [HB4846 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2013-HB4846-Introduced.html
HOUSE BILL No. 4846
June 18, 2013, Introduced by Rep. Foster and referred to the Committee on Education.
A bill to establish and provide for the administration of the
early graduation achievement scholarship program; to create the
early graduation achievement scholarship fund; and to provide for
the powers and duties of certain state officers and entities.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "early
graduation achievement scholarship act".
Sec. 2. As used in this act:
(a) "Academic year" means the period from September 1 of a
calendar year to August 31 of the next calendar year.
(b) "Approved postsecondary educational institution" means any
of the following:
(i) A public or private college or university, junior college,
or community college that grants degrees or certificates and is
located in this state.
(ii) A postsecondary educational institution, other than an
educational institution described in subparagraph (i), that is
located in this state, grants degrees, certificates, or other
recognized credentials, and is designated by the department as an
approved postsecondary educational institution.
(iii) A service academy.
(c) "Department" means the department of treasury.
(d) "Early graduation achievement scholarship" means a
scholarship awarded by the department under this act.
(e) "Fiscal year" means a fiscal year of this state. A fiscal
year begins on October 1 of a calendar year and ends on September
30 of the next calendar year.
(f) "Fund" means the early graduation achievement scholarship
fund created in section 3.
(g) "Service academy" means the United States military
academy, United States naval academy, United States air force
academy, United States coast guard academy, or United States
merchant marine academy.
(h) "Tuition" means the quarter or semester charges imposed to
attend an approved postsecondary educational institution, and all
mandatory fees required as a condition of enrollment at that
institution, as determined by the department.
Sec. 3. (1) The early graduation achievement scholarship fund
is established in the department of treasury. The fund shall
consist of money deposited into the fund under section 21g of the
state school aid act of 1979, 1979 PA 94, MCL 388.1621g; money
allocated, donated, or paid to the fund from any other source; and
interest and earnings from fund investments.
(2) The state treasurer shall direct the investment of the
fund.
(3) Money in the fund at the close of a fiscal year shall
remain in the fund and shall not revert to the general fund.
(4) Money in the fund shall be disbursed for grants under this
act and the administrative costs of the department and the
department of treasury in implementing and administering this act.
Sec. 4. (1) The early graduation achievement scholarship
program is established. The department shall provide early
graduation achievement scholarships under this act from the fund
and administer the early graduation achievement scholarship
program.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), each student who completes the
requirements for a high school diploma, and ceases to attend high
school, in 7 semesters or 11 trimesters of high school or fewer, is
eligible for the award of an early graduation achievement
scholarship in an amount determined under section 5.
(3) In addition to the requirements set forth in subsection
(2), the department must find that a student meets all of the
following eligibility requirements to award the student an early
graduation achievement scholarship under this act:
(a) The department has received a completed application for
payment as described in section 6(1), including the certification
described in section 6(2), on or before November 15 of the state
fiscal year in which he or she is eligible to receive payment.
(b) The student attended high school in this state for at
least 4 semesters or 6 trimesters, has ceased to attend high
school, and is a resident of this state.
(c) The student is enrolled in an approved postsecondary
educational institution, and first enrolled in that institution
within 2 years after he or she ceased to attend high school. The
department shall extend the 2-year period if the student becomes a
member of the United States armed forces or peace corps during the
2-year period.
Sec. 5. (1) Subject to subsection (2), a student who meets the
eligibility requirement under section 4 shall receive an early
graduation achievement scholarship in the amount of $2,500.00.
(2) If in any fiscal year the department determines that the
amount appropriated by the legislature for the payment of early
graduation achievement scholarships is not sufficient to pay each
eligible student the early graduation achievement scholarship
amount required under this section for an academic year, the
department shall adjust the amount of early graduation achievement
scholarships paid under this section by prorating the amounts as
necessary to reflect the available resources and amounts
appropriated in that fiscal year. The department shall notify the
governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the
majority leader of the senate in writing at least 30 days before
implementing a proration under this subsection.
Sec. 6. (1) The department shall determine the manner and form
of application to receive an early graduation achievement
scholarship under section 5.
(2) A student shall include a written certification to the
department in his or her application to receive an early graduation
achievement scholarship that contains all of the following:
(a) His or her certification that he or she meets the
requirements of section 4.
(b) His or her certification that he or she is enrolled in an
approved postsecondary educational institution and the name of the
approved postsecondary educational institution.
(c) The amount of his or her tuition expense at the approved
postsecondary educational institution for the current academic
year.
(3) An approved postsecondary educational institution shall
not consider an early graduation achievement scholarship in
determining a student's eligibility for a financial aid program
administered by this state. It is the intent of the legislature
that an approved postsecondary educational institution does not
reduce other institutionally funded student aid for which a student
is eligible because of the student's receipt of or eligibility for
an early graduation achievement scholarship.
Sec. 7. (1) The department shall disburse early graduation
achievement scholarship money to an approved postsecondary
institution on the student's behalf according to a payment
procedure established by the department.
(2) An approved postsecondary educational institution shall
apply money received under subsection (1) on a student's behalf to
the student's outstanding indebtedness for tuition and retain the
remaining balance on the student's behalf and apply it to his or
her future tuition indebtedness. However, if the student is no
longer enrolled in the institution, the institution shall return
any remaining balance to the department, and the student has no
further right to any money returned to the department under this
subdivision.
(3) Subsection (2) does not create an obligation on the part
of an approved postsecondary educational institution to loan or
advance money to a student for the payment of tuition, fees, or
other costs or expenses incurred by the student at that
institution.
(4) The department may promulgate rules to implement and
administer this act, including, but not limited to, 1 or more of
the following:
(a) Rules establishing the department's administrative
procedures for the early graduation achievement scholarship
program.
(b) Rules governing the qualification requirements for or the
award of early graduation achievement scholarships under this act.
(c) Rules establishing an appeals process from a determination
of ineligibility for an early graduation achievement scholarship.
(d) Rules establishing what information or reports a student
or an approved postsecondary educational institution must provide
to establish eligibility and when that information or those reports
must be provided.
(e) Rules prescribing the reports to be made by a student
awarded an early graduation achievement scholarship and by an
approved postsecondary educational institution to which an early
graduation achievement scholarship is paid.
Sec. 8. By April 1 of each year, the department shall submit a
report on its activities under this act to the governor and to the
standing committees of the senate and house of representatives with
primary jurisdiction over higher education issues. The report shall
contain all of the following information:
(a) The number of early graduation achievement scholarships
and the amount of early graduation achievement scholarship money
paid by the department in the immediately preceding fiscal year.
(b) A list of the number of early graduation achievement
scholarships and the amount of early graduation achievement
scholarship money paid in the immediately preceding fiscal year at
each approved postsecondary educational institution.
Enacting section 1. This act does not take effect unless
Senate Bill No. ____ or House Bill No. 4845(request no. 01857'13
a) of the 97th Legislature is enacted into law.
