HOUSE BILL NO. 6265
A bill to create the renewal award benefit program; to provide for the powers and duties of certain state governmental officers and entities; to provide for the payment of renewal award benefits; to create the renewal award benefit fund; and to require the promulgation of rules.
the people of the state of michigan enact:
Sec. 1. This act may be cited as the "renewal award benefit act".
(a) "Benefits" or "renewal award benefits" means renewal award benefits payable under this act.
(b) "Department" means the department of labor and economic opportunity.
(c) "Eligible county" means a county of this state that, during the immediately preceding 5-year period, experienced a net decline in population as determined by the department.
(d) "Eligible individual" means an individual who meets all of the following requirements:
(i) Has any of the following:
(A) An associate, bachelor's, or postgraduate degree from an institution of higher education.
(B) A certificate from an apprenticeship or other professional program that allows the individual to work in a qualifying job.
(ii) Establishes and maintains his or her domicile in an eligible county.
(iii) Is employed in a qualifying job.
(e) "Institution of higher education" means a degree- or certificate-granting public or private college or university, junior college, or community college that is located in this state.
(f) "Prosperity region" means each of the 10 prosperity regions identified by the department of technology, management, and budget on the effective date of this act.
(g) "Prosperity region average wage" means the average annual wage for the prosperity region in which a qualifying job is located based on the most recent data made available by the Michigan bureau of labor market information and strategic initiatives.
(h) "Qualifying job" means a job that meets all of the following requirements as determined by the department:
(i) Is in high demand based on the number of annual openings, net change in employment, and growth rate.
(ii) Requires that an employee meet at least 1 of the following conditions:
(A) Complete any amount of education from an institute of higher education.
(B) Possess a high school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate as that term is defined in section 4 of the state school aid act of 1979, MCL 388.1604, and have long-term, on-the-job training.
(C) Complete an apprenticeship.
(D) Complete an internship.
(E) Complete a residency program.
(iii) Pays an average annual wage that is equal to 125% or more of the prosperity region average wage.
Sec. 5. (1) Beginning 90 days after the effective date of this act, the department shall accept applications for renewal award benefits from eligible individuals.
(2) An eligible individual may submit an application for benefits on a form and in a manner prescribed by the department not later than 5 years after the eligible individual receives a degree or certificate. The application must include all of the following:
(a) Proof of the eligible individual's hourly wage earnings.
(b) Proof of the total number of hours of service provided by the eligible individual for the pay period that corresponds with the hourly wage earnings described in subdivision (a).
(c) A declaration that the eligible individual will maintain his or her domicile in an eligible county for 2 months for every month that the eligible individual receives benefits.
Sec. 7. (1) Except as provided under subsection (2), beginning on the date the department approves an eligible individual's application, the department shall provide the following benefit amounts to the eligible individual on the last business day of each month for a period not to exceed 24 months:
(a) If the individual earns an hourly wage of $40.00 or more, $100.00.
(b) If the individual earns an hourly wage of $35.00 or more but less than $40.00, $150.00.
(c) If the individual earns an hourly wage of $30.00 or more but less than $35.00, $200.00.
(d) If the individual earns an hourly wage of $25.00 or more but less than $30.00, $250.00.
(e) If the individual earns an hourly wage of $20.00 or more but less than $25.00, $300.00.
(f) If the individual earns an hourly wage of $15.00 or more but less than $20.00, $350.00.
(g) If the individual earns an hourly wage of less than $15.00, $400.00.
(2) If the department is unable to pay benefits to all eligible individuals in a month because the money in the renewal award benefit fund is insufficient, the department shall award proportionately reduced benefits to all eligible individuals so that the total amount of benefits paid is equal to the amount of money available in the renewal award benefit fund for the applicable month.
Sec. 9. (1) If at the time an individual receives a benefit the individual is not an eligible individual, the individual shall repay the benefit to the department.
(2) An eligible individual who does not maintain his or her domicile in an eligible county for the number of months required under section 5(3) shall repay any benefits received during the time period that the eligible individual did not maintain his or her domicile in an eligible county.
Sec. 11. (1) The renewal award benefit fund is created in the state treasury.
(2) The state treasurer shall deposit money and other assets received from any source into the fund. The state treasurer shall direct the investment of money in the fund and credit interest and earnings from the investments to the fund.
(3) The department is the administrator of the fund for audits of the fund.
(4) The department shall expend money from the fund upon appropriation only for the purpose of paying benefits to eligible individuals under this act.
Sec. 13. (1) The department shall promulgate rules to implement this act under the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328.
(2) The department shall compile and publish a list of eligible counties by January 1 of each year.
(3) The department shall assist eligible counties with educating potential eligible individuals about the benefits that are available under this act.