November 9, 2006, Introduced by Reps. Dillon, Sheltrown, Jones and Tobocman and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
A bill to amend 1999 PA 94, entitled
"Michigan merit award scholarship act,"
by amending the title and sections 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 7a, 7b, 8, and 9
(MCL 390.1451, 390.1452, 390.1454, 390.1456, 390.1457, 390.1457a,
390.1457b, 390.1458, and 390.1459), sections 2, 6, 8, and 9 as
amended and sections 7a and 7b as added by 2004 PA 595 and section
7 as amended by 2006 PA 241, and by adding sections 7c, 7d, 7e, and
7f.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
TITLE
An
act to create the Michigan merit award scholarship trust
fund;
to create the Michigan merit award scholarship board and
prescribe
the powers and duties of the board; and to provide for
the Michigan
merit award scholarship program, a merit award loan
program, and a merit award loan forgiveness grant program; and to
provide for the powers and duties of certain state governmental
officers and entities.
Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the
"Michigan
"merit award
scholarship act".
Sec. 2. As used in this act:
(a) "Approved postsecondary educational institution" means any
of the following:
(i) A degree or certificate granting public or private college
or university, junior college, or community college.
(ii) A service academy.
(iii) An educational institution, other than an educational
institution described in subparagraph (i) or (ii), granting degrees,
certificates, or other recognized credentials and designated by the
board as an approved postsecondary educational institution.
(iv) A program of an educational institution, other than an
educational institution described in subparagraph (i) or (ii),
granting degrees, certificates, or other recognized credentials and
designated by the board as an approved postsecondary educational
institution.
(b) "Assessment test" means the middle school assessment test,
the
high school assessment test, or the
Michigan merit
examination.
(c)
"Board" means the Michigan merit award board
established
in this act.
(d) "Department of career development" means the department of
career development created in Executive Order No. 1999-1.
(e) "Eligible costs" means tuition and fees charged by an
approved postsecondary educational institution; related costs for
room, board, books, supplies, transportation, or day care; and
other costs determined by the board.
(f) "Eligible debt" means the total unpaid amount of all of an
individual's unpaid merit award loans, calculated at the time the
individual first applies for a grant under section 7f.
(g) (f)
"Fiscal year" means the fiscal year of
this state.
(h) (g)
"High school assessment test" means the
state
assessments described in section 1279 of the revised school code,
1976 PA 451, MCL 380.1279, and section 104a of the state school aid
act, 1979 PA 94, MCL 388.1704a.
(i) (h)
"Michigan merit "Merit
award scholarship" means a
scholarship awarded by the board under section 7 or 7a.
(j) "Merit award loan" means a loan made by the board under
section 7c or 7d.
(k) (i)
"Michigan merit "Merit
examination" means the
Michigan merit examination described in section 1279g of the
revised school code, 1976 PA 451, MCL 380.1279g, and section 104b
of the state school aid act of 1979, 1979 PA 94, MCL 388.1704b.
(l) (j)
"Middle school assessment test" means the Michigan
education assessment program (MEAP) subject area assessments given
in grades 7 and 8 or any successor assessment test designated by
the board.
(m) "Proof of residency" means a filed Michigan individual
income tax return that includes the taxpayer's certification that
he or she is a resident, a signed affidavit of Michigan residency,
or other proof of residency acceptable to the board.
(n) (k)
"Qualifying results" means assessment test
results,
scores, or ranges of scores determined by the board that qualify a
pupil
for a Michigan merit award scholarship under section 7 or
7a or a merit award loan under section 7c or 7d.
(o) (l) "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.
(p) (m)
"State board" means the state board of
education.
(q) (n)
"Superintendent" means the superintendent
of public
instruction.
(o)
"Tobacco settlement revenue" means money received by this
state
that is attributable to the master settlement agreement
incorporated
into a consent decree and final judgment entered on
December 7, 1998 in Kelley Ex Rel. Michigan v Philip
Morris
Incorporated, et al.,
Ingham county circuit court, docket no. 96-
84281CZ.
(r) (p)
"Trust fund" means the Michigan
merit award trust
fund
established in section 3 9
of the Michigan trust fund act,
2000 PA 489, MCL 12.259.
Sec.
4. (1) The Michigan merit award board is established
within the department of treasury. The goal of the board is to
increase access to postsecondary education and reward Michigan high
school graduates who have demonstrated academic achievement.
(2) The board shall exercise its authority, powers, duties,
and responsibilities independent of the state treasurer. However,
all administrative functions, including budgeting, procurement, and
personnel functions, shall be performed under the direction and
supervision of the state treasurer.
(3) The board shall consist of 7 members. The members shall
include the state treasurer or his or her designee, the
superintendent or his or her designee, the director of the
department of career development or his or her designee, and 4
members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of
the senate. The state treasurer or his or her designee shall serve
as the chairperson of the board.
(4) The term of a member appointed by the governor shall be 4
years. Of the members first appointed by the governor, 2 shall be
appointed for 2-year terms and 2 shall be appointed for 4-year
terms.
(5) A member appointed by the governor may be removed by the
governor for neglect of duty or malfeasance in office.
(6) A vacancy on the board shall be filled for the balance of
the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment.
(7) The board may incur expenses necessary to carry out its
powers and duties under this act and shall compensate its members
for reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out their official
duties.
(8) The board shall establish a statewide toll-free telephone
line and internet access to receive questions, comments, and
complaints concerning the assessment test, including, but not
limited to, complaints of student cheating on the assessment test,
complaints or comments about specific assessment test questions or
testing conditions, or other questions, comments, or complaints
relating to the development, preparation, distribution, scoring, or
dissemination of results of the assessment test.
Sec. 6. (1) The board shall conduct business in compliance
with the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275. The
board shall give public notice of the time, date, and place of
meetings of the board in the manner required by the open meetings
act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.
(2) The board shall meet not less than annually and shall keep
a record of its proceedings. The board shall make any writing
prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by the
board in the performance of an official function available to the
public in compliance with the freedom of information act, 1976 PA
442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246.
(3) Except as provided in subsection (4), the board shall
obtain and make available to the public all of the qualifying
questions and answers, along with the corresponding answer key, to
a high school assessment test or a middle school assessment test
administered at least 3 and not more than 5 years earlier. The
board shall obtain and make available to the public preparatory
materials
for the Michigan merit examination that contain sample
test questions and correct answers.
(4) If any question is designated by the state board of
education for use in a future high school assessment test or middle
school assessment test for validity purposes, the board may elect
not to make that question and the answer available to the public
under subsection (3) for a period of up to 2 years from the date
the assessment test that first includes the question is
administered.
(5) By December 1 of each year, the board shall submit a
report on its activities to the governor and to the legislature.
The report shall contain all of the following information:
(a) A list of approved postsecondary educational institutions
for the current and immediately preceding fiscal years.
(b) The number of Michigan merit award scholarships awarded
and the total amount of Michigan merit award scholarship money paid
in the immediately preceding fiscal year.
(c) The number of merit award loans made and the total amount
of merit award loan money paid in the immediately preceding fiscal
year.
(d) (c)
A projection of revenues and expenditures from the
trust fund for the current fiscal year and the next 10 fiscal
years.
(e) (d)
The dollar amount of the Michigan merit award
scholarships available under sections 7 and 7a in the current
fiscal year, the amount of any adjustments to the dollar amount
under sections 7(4) and 7a(2) from the beginning of the immediately
preceding fiscal year, and any adjustments to the dollar amount
projected for the remainder of the current fiscal year or for the
next fiscal year.
(f) The dollar amount of the merit award loans available under
sections 7c and 7d in the current fiscal year, the amount of any
adjustments to the dollar amount of the loans under those sections
from the beginning of the immediately preceding fiscal year, and
any adjustments to the dollar amount of the loans projected for the
remainder of the current fiscal year or for the next fiscal year.
(g) (e)
All of the following results, scores, or ranges of
scores:
(i) Used as qualifying results in the immediately preceding
fiscal year.
(ii) Determined by the board as qualifying results in the
current fiscal year.
(iii) Projected by the board as qualifying results for the next
fiscal year.
(h) (f)
For the immediately preceding fiscal year, the
number of pupils who took the assessment tests, the number of
pupils by subject area who received qualifying results, the number
of graduating high school seniors who met the requirements for a
Michigan merit award scholarship, and the total number of pupils
who met the requirements for a Michigan merit award scholarship.
(i) For the immediately preceding fiscal year, the number of
pupils who took the assessment tests, the number of pupils by
subject area who received qualifying results, the number of
graduating high school seniors who met the requirements for a merit
award loan, and the total number of pupils who met the requirements
for a merit award loan.
(j) The number of merit award loans forgiven and the total
amount forgiven under section 8b in the immediately preceding
fiscal year.
(k) (g)
The number of persons participating in and the
amount awarded in the immediately preceding fiscal year under the
tuition incentive program described in section 310 of 2003 PA 144
or a successor to that program.
(6) At least 60 days before changing the results, scores, or
ranges of scores used as qualifying results, the board shall
provide written notice of its intent to change the results, scores,
or ranges of scores used as qualifying results, and a report
explaining the board's decision to change the results, scores, or
ranges of scores used as qualifying results, to the standing
committees of the senate and the house of representatives that have
primary jurisdiction over legislation pertaining to education. The
standing committees shall review the board's report and may hold
hearings on the board's decision.
Sec.
7. (1) The Michigan merit award scholarship
program is
established.
The board shall administer the Michigan merit award
scholarship program.
(2) Subject to subsection (6) and section 7b(2) and (5), and
to adjustment under subsection (4), each student enrolled in grade
11 in or after the 1998-1999 school year and before the 2006-2007
school year who meets the eligibility requirements of this
subsection and section 7b(1) is eligible for the award of a
$2,500.00 Michigan
merit award scholarship if the student is
enrolled in an approved postsecondary educational institution in
this state or in a service academy. Subject to subsection (6) and
section 7b(2) and (5), and to adjustment under subsection (4), each
student enrolled in grade 11 in or after the 1998-1999 school year
who graduated from high school before the 2006-2007 school year and
who meets the eligibility requirements of this subsection and
section
7b(1) is eligible for the award of a $1,000.00 Michigan
merit award scholarship if the student is enrolled in an approved
postsecondary educational institution outside this state other than
a service academy. A student is eligible under this subsection if
the board finds that the student while in high school had taken the
high school assessment test in the subject areas of reading,
writing, mathematics, and science and met 1 of the following:
(a) Received qualifying results in each of the subject areas
of reading, writing, mathematics, and science.
(b) Did not receive qualifying results in 1 or 2 of the
subject areas of reading, writing, mathematics, and science, but
received an overall score in the top 25% of a nationally recognized
college admission examination.
(c) Did not receive qualifying results in 1 or 2 of the
subject areas of reading, writing, mathematics, and science, but
received a qualifying score or scores as determined by the board on
a nationally recognized job skills assessment test designated by
the board.
(3) Subject to subsection (6) and section 7b(5) and to
adjustment under subsection (4), each student enrolled in grade 11
in or after the 2006-2007 school year and before the 2008-2009
school year who meets the requirements of section 7b(1) is eligible
for
the award of a $2,500.00 Michigan merit award scholarship if
the student is enrolled in an approved postsecondary educational
institution in this state or in a service academy, if the board
finds
that the student while in high school had taken the Michigan
merit examination and met 1 of the following:
(a) Received qualifying results in each of the subject area
components
of the Michigan merit examination.
(b) Did not receive qualifying results in each of the subject
area
components of the Michigan merit examination, but
received
an overall score in the top 25% of a nationally recognized college
admission examination.
(c) Did not receive qualifying results in each of the subject
area
components of the Michigan merit examination, but
received a
qualifying score or scores as determined by the board on a
nationally recognized job skills assessment test designated by the
board.
(4) In any fiscal year, the board may adjust the amount of a
Michigan
merit award scholarship available to students
eligible
under 1 or more of subsections (2), (3), and (5), based upon its
determination of available resources and amounts appropriated, but
the board shall not increase an amount by more than 5% in any
fiscal year. The board 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 an adjustment under this
subsection.
(5) If a student who has previously received a $1,000.00
Michigan
merit award scholarship under this section as a
student
enrolled in an approved postsecondary educational institution
outside of this state other than a service academy enrolls in an
approved postsecondary educational institution in this state and
meets the requirements of section 7b(1), and subject to adjustment
under subsection (4), the student is eligible for the award of an
additional
$1,500.00 Michigan merit award scholarship.
(6) If the United States department of education has not
approved
the use of the Michigan merit examination for the
purposes of the federal no child left behind act of 2001, Public
Law 107-110, by December 31, 2006, all of the following apply:
(a)
Eligibility for a Michigan merit award scholarship
under
this section shall be determined under subsection (2) until the
next calendar year that begins after that approval occurs.
(b)
Eligibility for a Michigan merit award scholarship
under
this section shall be determined under subsection (3) beginning in
the next calendar year that begins after that approval occurs.
Sec. 7a. (1) Subject to section 7b(2) and to adjustment under
subsection (2), a student who was enrolled in grade 7 in or after
the 1999-2000 school year and before the 2005-2006 school year, who
meets the requirements of section 7b(1), and who the board finds
has taken the middle school assessment test in each of the subject
areas while in grades 7 and 8 is eligible for 1 of the following
Michigan
merit award scholarships:
(a) If the board finds that the student while in grades 7 and
8 received qualifying results in 2 of the subject areas of reading,
writing,
mathematics, and science, a Michigan merit award
scholarship of $250.00.
(b) If the board finds that the student while in grades 7 and
8 received qualifying results in 3 of the subject areas of reading,
writing,
mathematics, and science, a Michigan merit award
scholarship of $375.00.
(c) If the board finds that the student while in grades 7 and
8 received qualifying results in all of the subject areas of
reading,
writing, mathematics, and science, a
Michigan merit
award scholarship of $500.00.
(2) In any fiscal year, the board may adjust the amount of a
Michigan
merit award scholarship available to students
eligible
under subsection (1) based upon its determination of available
resources and amounts appropriated, but the board shall not
increase an amount by more than 5% in any fiscal year. The board
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 an adjustment under this subsection.
Sec. 7b. (1) In addition to the requirements set forth in
section
7(2) or (3), or section 7a(1), section 7c(2), or section
7d(1), to be eligible for the award of a Michigan
merit award
scholarship or merit award loan under this act, the board must find
that a student satisfies all of the following:
(a) The student has graduated from high school or passed the
general educational development (GED) test or other graduate
equivalency examination approved by the state board.
(b) The student graduated from high school or passed the
general educational development (GED) test or other graduate
equivalency examination approved by the state board within 1 of the
following time periods:
(i) If the student graduated from high school or passed the
test or examination before March 1, 2002, within the 7-year period
preceding
the student's application to receive his or her Michigan
merit award scholarship money.
(ii) If the student graduated on or after March 1, 2002, within
the 4-year period preceding the date of the student's application
to
receive his or her Michigan merit award scholarship
money or
merit award loan money, or if the student becomes a member of the
United States armed forces or peace corps during this 4-year period
and serves for 4 years or less, the 4-year period is extended by a
period equal to the number of days the student served as a member
of the United States armed forces or peace corps. The board may
also extend the 4-year period if the board determines that an
extension is warranted because of an illness or disability of the
student or in the student's immediate family or another family
emergency.
(c) The student is enrolled in an approved postsecondary
educational institution. For students who qualify under section
7(2)(c) or 7c(2)(c), the student is enrolled in a vocational or
technical education program at an approved postsecondary
educational institution.
(d) The student has not been convicted of a felony involving
an assault, physical injury, or death.
(e) The student satisfies any additional eligibility
requirements established by the board.
(2) For a middle school assessment test or high school
assessment test administered after January 1, 2000, the board shall
not use that assessment test to determine eligibility for a
Michigan
merit award scholarship or merit award loan under this
section for a particular year unless the board has reviewed and
approved that assessment test before it was administered for that
year.
(3) The board shall provide each pupil written notice of
whether or not the pupil is eligible for the award of 1 or more
Michigan
merit award scholarships or merit award loans described
in this act. If the pupil is eligible, the written notice shall
also
contain the Michigan merit award scholarship or merit award
loan amount for which the pupil is eligible, how the pupil applies
for
payment of Michigan the merit award scholarship or merit
award loan, and any other information the board considers necessary
regarding qualification requirements or conditions relating to the
use
of the Michigan merit award scholarship or merit award loan.
(4) It is the intent of the legislature that the level of
pupil performance required to achieve qualifying results in a
subject area of an assessment test remains approximately the same,
and that the board not reduce the required level of pupil
performance
as a means of increasing the number of
Michigan merit
award scholarships or merit award loans awarded.
(5) A pupil who does not initially receive qualifying results
shall be extended an opportunity to achieve the requisite
qualifying results by taking a subsequent assessment test. A pupil
described in this subsection who is enrolled in grade 12 in the
2006-2007 school year, or enrolled in grade 12 in the first
calendar year after the approval described in section 7(6) occurs
if that subsection applies, may elect either of the following:
(a) To take the high school assessment test for the purpose of
qualifying
for a Michigan merit award scholarship
under section
7(2).
(b)
To take the Michigan merit examination for the
purpose
of
qualifying for a Michigan merit award scholarship
under
section 7(3).
(6) A nonpublic school pupil or home school pupil may take,
and the board shall administer if requested, an assessment test at
a site designated by the board.
Sec. 7c. (1) The merit award loan program is established. The
board shall administer the merit award loan program.
(2) Subject to section 7b(5) and to adjustment under
subsection (3), each student enrolled in grade 11 in or after the
2008-2009 school year who meets the requirements of section 7e is
eligible for a $2,500.00 merit award loan if the student is
enrolled in an approved postsecondary educational institution in
this state or in a service academy, if the board finds that the
student while in high school has taken the merit examination and
meets 1 of the following:
(a) Has received qualifying results in each of the subject
area components of the merit examination.
(b) Did not receive qualifying results in each of the subject
area components of the merit examination, but received an overall
score in the top 25% of a nationally recognized college admission
examination.
(c) Did not receive qualifying results in each of the subject
area components of the merit examination, but received a qualifying
score or scores as determined by the board on a nationally
recognized job skills assessment test designated by the board.
(3) In any fiscal year, the board may adjust the amount of a
merit award loan available to students eligible under subsection
(2), based upon its determination of available resources and
amounts appropriated, but the board shall not increase an amount by
more than 5% in any fiscal year. The board 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 an
adjustment under this subsection.
Sec. 7d. (1) Subject to section 7b(2) and to adjustment under
subsection (2), a student who was enrolled in grade 7 in or after
the 2005-2006 school year, who meets the requirements of section
7b(1), and who the board finds has taken the middle school
assessment test in each of the subject areas while in grades 7 and
8 is eligible for 1 of the following merit award loans:
(a) If the board finds that the student while in grades 7 and
8 received qualifying results in 2 of the subject areas of reading,
writing, mathematics, and science, a merit award loan of $250.00.
(b) If the board finds that the student while in grades 7 and
8 received qualifying results in 3 of the subject areas of reading,
writing, mathematics, and science, a merit award loan of $375.00.
(c) If the board finds that the student while in grades 7 and
8 received qualifying results in all of the subject areas of
reading, writing, mathematics, and science, a merit award loan of
$500.00.
(2) In any fiscal year, the board may adjust the amount of a
merit award loan available to students eligible under subsection
(1) based upon its determination of available resources and amounts
appropriated, but the board shall not increase an amount by more
than 5% in any fiscal year. The board 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 an
adjustment under this subsection.
Sec. 7e. A merit award loan made under section 7c or 7d is
repayable according to the same terms as other student loans made
or guaranteed by this state at the time the loan is awarded, except
as follows:
(a) The loan is subject to section 7f.
(b) The loan recipient shall repay the loan in 2 equal annual
installments of principal and interest, with the first installment
due 1 year after the earliest to occur of the following:
(i) The loan recipient's graduation from an approved
postsecondary educational institution.
(ii) The sixth anniversary of the receipt by the board of the
loan recipient's initial loan application. The board may extend
this date for up to 1 year if the loan recipient provides proof
acceptable to the board that he or she is progressing toward
graduation.
(c) The interest on the loan is the prime rate plus 2
percentage points, as determined by the board, beginning 1 year
after the first merit award loan under this act.
Sec. 7f. (1) The board may award a grant under subsection (2)
to an individual determined by the board to meet all of the
following eligibility criteria at the time of application:
(a) Has eligible debt.
(b) Is a legal resident of this state and has been a legal
resident of this state continuously since he or she last attended
an approved postsecondary institution.
(c) Has not previously defaulted and is not currently in
default on a merit award loan.
(d) Has submitted a grant application to the board. The grant
application shall include proof of residency and a certification
that the applicant meets the eligibility criteria described in this
section.
(e) Has met any other requirements established by the board.
(2) The board shall award an individual eligible under
subsection (1) a grant under this subsection. Subject to subsection
(3) and to adjustment under subsection (4), the maximum aggregate
amount of the grant is an amount equal to the individual's eligible
debt. Before each consecutive calendar year of continuous residency
in this state, for up to 2 consecutive calendar years, the board
shall award a partial grant in an amount equal to 50% of the amount
of the individual's eligible debt. The board shall apply a partial
grant under this section to the individual's eligible debt as a
prepayment in that amount.
(3) The board shall reduce a grant under subsection (2) by an
amount equal to any amount the individual is entitled to receive
from any state or federal loan repayment program applicable to
merit award loans.
(4) In any state fiscal year, the board may adjust the amount
of each partial grant under subsection (2) on a pro rata basis,
based upon its determination of money available from the trust fund
and from appropriations in that fiscal year. If it makes an
adjustment under this subsection, the board shall notify each grant
recipient of his or her obligation to continue to make payments of
principal and interest on his or her eligible debt in the manner
described in his or her merit award loan documents.
Sec.
8. (1) Michigan A recipient shall only use merit
award
scholarship
money shall be used only or merit award loan money to
pay for eligible costs.
(2) The board shall determine the manner and form of
application
for payment of a Michigan merit award scholarship or
merit award loan by a student eligible under this act and the
procedure for payment to the student or to an approved
postsecondary educational institution on the student's behalf,
subject to 1 of the following, as applicable:
(a) As determined by the board, upon the request of a student
or parent or legal guardian of a minor student, the board may pay a
Michigan
merit award scholarship in 2 consecutive annual
installments rather than 1 lump sum for a student who graduates
from high school or passes the general educational development
(GED) test or approved graduate equivalency examination before
March 1, 2003.
(b) For each student who graduates from high school or passes
the general educational development (GED) test or approved graduate
equivalency examination on or after March 1, 2003 and before March
1,
2004, the board shall pay a Michigan merit award scholarship
in 2 consecutive annual installments, beginning in the state fiscal
year for which the student is otherwise eligible. The first
installment shall not exceed 50% of the award amount, and the
second installment shall consist of the remaining award amount.
Verification that the student has met the enrollment criteria under
section 7b(1)(c) is required before payment of the second
installment.
(c) For each student who graduates from high school or passes
the general educational development (GED) test or approved graduate
equivalency examination on or after March 1, 2004, the board shall
pay
a Michigan merit award scholarship or a merit award loan in 2
consecutive annual installments, beginning in the state fiscal year
that begins after the beginning of the academic year for which the
student is otherwise eligible. The first installment shall not
exceed 50% of the award amount, and the second installment shall
consist of the remaining award amount. Verification that the
student has met the enrollment criteria under section 7b(1)(c) or
7e(1)(c), as applicable, is required before payment of the second
installment.
(3) An approved postsecondary educational institution shall
not
consider a Michigan merit award scholarship or a merit award
loan 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
not reduce institutionally-funded student aid because of the
Michigan
merit award scholarship program or the merit award loan
program.
(4)
Before payment of a Michigan merit award scholarship or
a merit award loan to a student or an approved postsecondary
educational institution, the student shall certify or affirm in
writing to the board each of the following:
(a) That the student is enrolled at an approved postsecondary
educational institution.
(b) The name of the approved postsecondary educational
institution in which the student is enrolled.
(c)
That the student agrees to use the
Michigan merit
award
scholarship or merit award loan only for eligible costs.
(d) That the student has not been convicted of a felony
involving an assault, physical injury, or death.
(e) That the student graduated from high school or passed the
general educational development (GED) test or approved graduate
equivalency examination within 1 of the following time periods:
(i) If the student graduated from high school or passed the
test or examination before March 1, 2002, within the 7-year period
preceding the date of the student's application to receive his or
her Michigan
merit award scholarship.
(ii) If the student graduated on or after March 1, 2002, within
the 4-year period preceding the date of the student's application
to
receive his or her Michigan merit award scholarship or merit
award loan, or within a period equal to 4 years plus the number of
days the student served as a member of the United States armed
forces or peace corps if the student became a member of the United
States armed forces or peace corps during this 4-year period and
served for 4 years or less. The board may also extend the 4-year
period if the board determines that an extension is warranted
because of an illness or disability of the student or in the
student's immediate family or another family emergency.
(5)
The board shall not begin disbursing funds for a Michigan
merit award scholarship or merit award loan to a student or an
approved postsecondary educational institution on behalf of the
student unless it receives the request or application for payment,
including the written certification or affirmation described in
this section, from the student on or before 1 of the following
dates, for disbursement in that academic year:
(a) In the 2002-2003 academic year, January 15.
(b) In the 2003-2004 academic year, September 15 if the
student received notification of eligibility prior to August 1.
(c) In the 2003-2004 academic year, November 15 if the student
received notification of eligibility on or after August 1.
(d) In the 2004-2005 academic year, December 15.
(e) In any other academic year, November 15.
Sec. 9. The board may promulgate rules pursuant to the
administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to
24.328, to implement and administer this act, including, but not
limited to, 1 or more of the following:
(a) Rules establishing the board's administrative procedures.
(b) Rules governing the qualification requirements for or the
award
of Michigan merit award scholarships or merit award loans
under this act.
(c) Rules establishing an appeals process from a determination
of
ineligibility for a Michigan merit award scholarship or a
merit award loan.
(d) Rules establishing what information or reports a student
or 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
1 or more Michigan merit award scholarships or merit
award loans and by a postsecondary educational institution to which
the Michigan
merit award scholarship or merit award loan is paid.