SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION STIPENDS S.B. 801:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 801 (as introduced 1-12-22)
Sponsor: Senator Kimberly LaSata
CONTENT
The bill would amend the State School Aid Act to provide supplemental appropriations for fiscal year (FY) 2021-22. The bill would add $2.0 million of School Aid Fund (SAF) for a grant program to allow districts to provide the parent or legal guardian of an eligible pupil who was enrolled in the district a card stipend to be used for qualified transportation services used by the eligible pupil to get to and from the district. To receive funding, a district would have to apply for the funding in a form and manner prescribed by the Department of Treasury. A district could only use the funding to provide the card stipends and to provide notice to the parents and legal guardians of eligible pupils concerning card stipends.
A district that received funding would have to select the eligible pupils whose parent or legal guardian would receive a card stipend through a random-draw system. A district also would have to prioritize the award of card stipends to parents and legal guardians of eligible pupils who were eligible for free meals under the National School Lunch Act. The maximum funding for a single district could not exceed $25,000.
An eligible pupil would be one to whom all the following applied:
-- The pupil was eligible for free or reduced-price meals under the National School Lunch Act.
-- The pupil was a resident of Michigan.
-- The pupil resided at least 1.5 miles away from the school in which he or she attended that was operated in the district in which he or she was enrolled.
-- The pupil was enrolled in either a public school academy, or a traditional school district under Section 105 or 105c (Schools of Choice).
"Card stipend" would mean a mechanism of payment developed by the Department of Treasury through which a parent or legal guardian of an eligible pupil receives a payment of no more than $1,400 from the funding received by the district in which the eligible pupil is enrolled under the bill as provided by the bill.
"District" would mean a public school academy or a school district established under the Code that is accepting applications for enrollment by nonresident applicants under Section 105 or 105c (Schools of Choice).
"Qualified transportation services" would mean district-operated transportation, transportation provided by a public-transit operator, or ride-sharing transportations services (e.g., Uber) approved by the Department of Treasury.
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would increase Gross appropriations by $2.0 million, all of which would be School Aid Fund. State spending from State resources and State payments to locals would increase by $2.0 million.
Fiscal Analyst: Ryan M. Bergan
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.