SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION B


   January 26, 1999, Introduced by Senator SCHUETTE and 
        referred to the Committee on Education.



        A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state con-

   stitution of 1963, by amending section 2 of article VIII, to

   allow state financial aid to support the attendance of low income

   children who reside in urban areas at nonreligious, nonpublic

   schools.

        Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the

   state of Michigan, That the following amendment to the state con-

   stitution of 1963, to allow state financial aid to support the

   attendance of low income children who reside in urban areas at

   nonreligious, nonpublic schools, is proposed, agreed to, and sub-

   mitted to the people of the state:

 1                               ARTICLE VIII

 2         Sec. 2.  The legislature shall maintain and support a system

 3    of free public elementary and secondary schools as defined by



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 1    law.  Every school district shall provide for the education of

 2    its pupils without discrimination as to religion, creed, race,

 3    color or national origin.

 4          No  EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS
             SECTION, NO public

 5    monies or property shall be appropriated or paid or any public

 6    credit utilized, by the legislature or any other political subdi-

 7    vision or agency of the state directly or indirectly to aid or

 8    maintain any private, denominational or other nonpublic,

 9    pre-elementary, elementary, or secondary school.  No
              EXCEPT AS

10    OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THIS SECTION, NO payment, credit, tax bene-

11    fit, exemption or deductions, tuition voucher, subsidy, grant or

12    loan of public monies or property shall be provided, directly or

13    indirectly, to support the attendance of any student or the

14    employment of any person at any such nonpublic school or at any

15    location or institution where instruction is offered in whole or

16    in part to such nonpublic school students.  The legislature may

17    provide for the transportation of students to and from any

18    school.

19         THE LEGISLATURE MAY PROVIDE FOR AN EDUCATIONAL VOUCHER

20    SYSTEM TO SUPPORT THE ATTENDANCE OF LOW INCOME SCHOOL-AGE CHIL-

21    DREN WHO RESIDE IN CITIES WITH A POPULATION OF AT LEAST 750,000

22    AT NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS THAT ARE NOT AFFILIATED WITH ANY RELIGIOUS

23    GROUP OR ORGANIZATION.

24         Resolved further, That the foregoing amendment shall be sub-

25    mitted to the people of the state at the next general election in

26    the manner provided by law.





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