SENATE BILL NO. 1105

A bill to establish a stipend program for certain student teachers; to establish a student teacher stipend fund and to provide for its administration; and to prescribe certain powers and duties of certain state officers, agencies, and departments.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 1. This act may be cited as the "student teacher stipend act".

Sec. 3. As used in this act:

(a) "Authority" means the Michigan finance authority created within the department by Executive Reorganization Order No. 2010-2, MCL 12.194.

(b) "Department" means the department of treasury.

(c) "Fund" means the student teacher stipend fund created in section 11.

(d) "Public school" means that term as defined in section 5 of the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.5.

(e) "Stipend" means money awarded to an individual under this act in an amount determined under section 9.

(f) "Student teacher" means an individual who meets all of the following:

(i) Is a student enrolled in a teacher preparation institution approved by this state pursuant to section 1538a of the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.1538a.

(ii) Is studying to be a teacher at the institution described in subparagraph (i) in a program approved by this state pursuant to section 1538a of the revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.1538a.

(iii) As a required part of the program described in subparagraph (ii), observes classroom instruction or does closely supervised teaching in a public school for at least 3 hours per day.

Sec. 5. The student teacher stipend program is created within the department, to be administered by the authority. Subject to appropriation, the authority shall do all of the following:

(a) Award stipends to eligible student teachers under this act.

(b) Develop an application form and application process for student teachers applying for stipends under this act.

(c) Promulgate any rules necessary to implement this act pursuant to the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328.

Sec. 7. The authority may award a stipend under section 9 to an individual determined by the authority to meet all of the following eligibility criteria:

(a) Is a student teacher.

(b) Is a legal resident of this state.

(c) Has submitted a stipend application to the authority on or before a date prescribed by the authority. The stipend application must include a certification that the applicant meets the eligibility criteria described in this section.

(d) Meets any other requirements established by the authority.

Sec. 9. (1) The authority shall award an individual eligible under section 7 a stipend under this subsection. Subject to adjustment under subsection (2), the maximum amount of the stipend is $9,600.00 in total for the period that the individual serves as a student teacher.

(2) In any state fiscal year, the authority may adjust the amount of each stipend under subsection (1) based upon its determination of money available from the fund and from appropriations in that fiscal year.

Sec. 11. (1) There is created the student teacher stipend fund as a separate fund in the state treasury, to be administered by the department. The department may accept money for the fund from any source except the school aid fund created in section 11 of article IX of the state constitution of 1963. The state treasurer shall deposit that money and credit the amount to the fund. The department shall use the fund only to provide money to the authority for stipends awarded under this act.

(2) The state treasurer shall direct the investment of the fund money and shall credit earnings to the fund.

(3) Money in the fund at the end of a fiscal year must not revert to the general fund but must be carried over in the fund to the next fiscal year.

Sec. 13. Before February 1 of each year, the authority shall report to the senate and house committees that have the responsibility for education legislation all of the following:

(a) The number of individuals who received a stipend under this act.

(b) A list of the public schools at which stipend recipients served as student teachers.

(c) A list of institutions at which stipend recipients were studying to become teachers.

(d) The average total amount paid to each stipend recipient.

(e) Any other data to support the operation and effectiveness of the program.

Sec. 15. A recipient of a stipend under this act who submits a false or misleading application or other false or misleading information to the authority may be required to repay the total amount of the stipend that he or she received, plus interest in accordance with section 23 of 1941 PA 122, MCL 205.23.