October 14, 2003, Introduced by Reps. Hunter, Hood, Meisner, Tobocman, Phillips, Condino, McConico, Hopgood, Clack, Gleason and Cheeks and referred to the Committee on Higher Education.
A bill to amend 1999 PA 94, entitled
"Michigan merit award scholarship act,"
by amending section 7 (MCL 390.1457), as amended by 2002 PA 736.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
1 Sec. 7. (1) The Michigan merit award scholarship program is
2 established. The board shall administer the Michigan merit award
3 scholarship program.
4 (2) Subject to subsection (6), each student enrolled in grade
5 11 in or after the 1998-1999 school year who meets the
6 requirements of subsection (4), and subject to adjustment under
7 subsection (5), is eligible for the award of a $2,500.00 Michigan
8 merit award scholarship if the student is enrolled in an approved
9 postsecondary educational institution in this state or in a
10 service academy, or the award of a $1,000.00 Michigan merit award
11 scholarship if the student is enrolled in an approved
1 postsecondary educational institution outside this state other
2 than a service academy, if the board finds that the student while
3 in high school has taken the assessment test in the subject areas
4 of reading, writing,
mathematics, and science and meets 1 any
5 of the following:
6 (a) Has received qualifying results in each of the subject
7 areas of reading, writing, mathematics, and science.
8 (b) Did not receive qualifying results in 1 or 2 of the
9 subject areas of reading, writing, mathematics, and science, but
10 received an overall score in the top 25% of a nationally
11 recognized college admission examination.
12 (c) Did not receive qualifying results in 1 or 2 of the
13 subject areas of reading, writing, mathematics, and science, but
14 received a qualifying score or scores as determined by the board
15 on a nationally recognized job skills assessment test designated
16 by the board.
17 (d) While in high school or the 2-year period following
18 graduation from high school, performed 1,700 hours or more of
19 volunteer service under a community, statewide, or national
20 service program administered or coordinated by the Michigan
21 community service commission under 1994 PA 219, MCL 408.221 to
22 408.232. However, a student who meets this subdivision and not
23 subdivision (a), (b), or (c) is only eligible for the award of a
24 $2,500.00 Michigan merit award scholarship, and only if the
25 student is enrolled in an approved postsecondary educational
26 institution in this state.
27 (3) Subject to subsection (6) and to adjustment under
1 subsection (5), a student who was enrolled in grade 7 in or after
2 the 1999-2000 school year and who the board finds has taken the
3 assessment test in each of the subject areas while in grades 7
4 and 8 is eligible for 1 of the following additional Michigan
5 merit award scholarships:
6 (a) If the board finds that the student while in grades 7 and
7 8 received qualifying results in 2 of the subject areas of
8 reading, writing, mathematics, and science, an additional
9 Michigan merit award scholarship of $250.00.
10 (b) If the board finds that the student while in grades 7 and
11 8 received qualifying results in 3 of the subject areas of
12 reading, writing, mathematics, and science, an additional
13 Michigan merit award scholarship of $375.00.
14 (c) If the board finds that the student while in grades 7 and
15 8 received qualifying results in all of the subject areas of
16 reading, writing, mathematics, and science, an additional
17 Michigan merit award scholarship of $500.00.
18 (4) In addition to the requirements set forth in subsections
19 (2) and (3), to be eligible for the award of 1 or both Michigan
20 merit award scholarships under this section, the board must find
21 that a student satisfies all of the following:
22 (a) The student has graduated from high school or passed the
23 general educational development (GED) test or other graduate
24 equivalency examination approved by the state board.
25 (b) The student graduated from high school or passed the
26 general educational development (GED) test or other graduate
27 equivalency examination approved by the state board within 1 of
1 the following time periods:
2 (i) If the student graduated from high school or passed the
3 test or examination before March 1, 2002, within the 7-year
4 period preceding the student's application to receive his or her
5 Michigan merit award scholarship money.
6 (ii) If the student graduated on or after March 1, 2002,
7 within the 4-year period preceding the date of the student's
8 application to receive his or her Michigan merit award
9 scholarship money, or if the student becomes a member of the
10 United States armed forces or peace corps during this 4-year
11 period and serves for 4 years or less, the 4-year period is
12 extended by a period equal to the number of days the student
13 served as a member of the United States armed forces or peace
14 corps. The board may also extend the 4-year period if the board
15 determines that an extension is warranted because of an illness
16 or disability of the student or in the student's immediate family
17 or another family emergency.
18 (c) The student is enrolled in an approved postsecondary
19 educational institution. For students who qualify under
20 subsection (2)(c), the student is enrolled in a vocational or
21 technical education program at an approved postsecondary
22 educational institution.
23 (d) The student has not been convicted of a felony involving
24 an assault, physical injury, or death.
25 (e) The student satisfies any additional eligibility
26 requirements established by the board.
27 (5) In any fiscal year, the board may adjust the amount of a
1 Michigan merit award scholarship available to students eligible
2 under 1 or more of subsections (2), (3), and (9), based upon its
3 determination of available resources and amounts appropriated,
4 but the board shall not increase an amount by more than 5% in any
5 fiscal year. The board shall notify the governor, the speaker of
6 the house of representatives, and the majority leader of the
7 senate in writing at least 30 days before an adjustment under
8 this subsection.
9 (6) For assessment tests administered after January 1, 2000,
10 the board shall not use the assessment test to determine
11 eligibility for a Michigan merit award scholarship under this
12 section for a particular year unless the board has reviewed and
13 approved the assessment test before it was administered for that
14 year.
15 (7) The board shall provide each student written notice of
16 whether or not the student is eligible for the award of 1 or more
17 Michigan merit award scholarships described in this section. If
18 the student is eligible, the written notice shall also contain
19 the Michigan merit award scholarship amount for which the student
20 is eligible, how the student applies for payment of Michigan
21 merit award scholarship, and any other information the board
22 considers necessary regarding qualification requirements or
23 conditions relating to the use of the Michigan merit award
24 scholarship.
25 (8) It is the intent of the legislature that the level of
26 student performance required to achieve qualifying results in a
27 subject area of an assessment test remains approximately the
1 same, and that the board not reduce the required level of student
2 performance as a means of increasing the number of Michigan merit
3 award scholarships awarded.
4 (9) If a student who has previously received a $1,000.00
5 Michigan merit award scholarship as a student enrolled in an
6 approved postsecondary educational institution outside of this
7 state other than a service academy enrolls in an approved
8 postsecondary educational institution in this state and meets the
9 requirements of subsection (4), and subject to adjustment under
10 subsection (5), the student is eligible for the award of an
11 additional $1,500.00 Michigan merit award scholarship.
12 (10) A pupil who does not initially receive qualifying
13 results shall be
extended an opportunity may take another
14 assessment test to
achieve the requisite qualifying results. by
15 taking a subsequent
assessment test.
16 (11) A nonpublic school student or home school student may
17 take, and the board shall administer if requested, an assessment
18 test at a site designated by the board.