April 17, 2014, Introduced by Rep. Rendon and referred to the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs.
A bill to provide for tuition assistance at certain
educational institutions for Michigan national guard members; and
to prescribe duties for certain state officials.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the
"Michigan national guard tuition assistance act".
Sec. 2. As used in this act:
(a) "Active service" means that term as defined in section 105
of the Michigan military act, 1967 PA 150, MCL 32.505.
(b) "Adjutant general" means the adjutant general of this
state.
(c) "Eligible educational institution" means a public or
private college, university, vocational school, technical school,
or trade school located in this state.
(d) "Eligible person" means a member of the Michigan national
guard who meets all of the following conditions:
(i) Is in active service.
(ii) Is not absent without leave or under charges described in
the Michigan code of military justice of 1980, 1980 PA 523, MCL
32.1001 to 32.1148.
(iii) Any other criteria determined by the adjutant general
consistent with Michigan national guard recruiting and retention
requirements.
(e) "Fund" means the Michigan national guard tuition
assistance fund created in section 4.
(f) "Tuition" means the cost of a course of study at an
eligible educational institution, including the cost of
instructional fees, laboratory fees, computer fees, and other fees
directly related to that eligible person's specific course of study
at that eligible educational institution. Tuition does not include
the cost of books and study materials.
(g) "Tuition assistance program" means the Michigan national
guard tuition assistance program created in section 3.
Sec. 3. (1) The Michigan national guard tuition assistance
program is created within the department of military and veterans
affairs.
(2) The adjutant general shall administer the tuition
assistance program and prescribe forms and procedures to
effectively carry out the tuition assistance program.
(3) An eligible person may apply for tuition assistance, not
to exceed $4,500.00 in any academic year, from the tuition
assistance program before enrolling in an eligible educational
institution. The adjutant general shall approve the application if
the applicant is an eligible person and if there is sufficient
money in the fund to cover the cost of the amount requested on the
application.
(4) If an eligible person has enrolled in an eligible
educational institution and has not applied for and received
tuition assistance from the tuition assistance program, the
eligible person may apply for tuition assistance for the full
amount of the tuition paid to the eligible educational institution
not to exceed $4,500.00 in any academic year. The adjutant general
shall approve the application if the applicant is an eligible
person and if there is sufficient money in the fund to cover the
cost of the amount requested on the application.
(5) The tuition assistance program applies to any course of
study that is intended to culminate in vocational or technical
training, a certificate, or the eligible person's first associate
degree, bachelor's degree, or master's degree.
(6) The tuition assistance program applies to an eligible
person notwithstanding any other educational incentive or benefit
received by the eligible person under any other educational
assistance program provided by any other law.
(7) Upon completion of a course of study, an eligible person
who successfully applied for and received tuition assistance under
subsection (3) or (4) shall provide evidence of attendance and
completion of the course of study in a manner prescribed by the
adjutant general.
(8) An eligible person who received tuition assistance under
subsection (3) or who received reimbursement for the cost of
tuition under subsection (4) and who did not complete the course of
study for which it was granted shall reimburse the fund the full
amount received in a manner prescribed by the adjutant general.
Sec. 4. (1) The Michigan national guard tuition assistance
fund is created within the state treasury.
(2) The state treasurer may receive money or other assets from
any source for deposit into the fund. The state treasurer shall
direct the investment of the fund. The state treasurer shall credit
to the fund interest and earnings from the fund.
(3) Money in the fund at the close of the fiscal year shall
remain in the fund and shall not lapse to the general fund.
(4) The department of military and veterans affairs shall be
the administrator of the fund for auditing purposes.
(5) The adjutant general shall expend money from the fund to
provide tuition assistance to an eligible person for the cost of
tuition to an eligible educational institution under section 3(3)
or to reimburse an eligible person for the cost of tuition paid to
an eligible educational institution under section 3(4) for a course
of study completed by the eligible person.