SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION D


   February 2, 1999, Introduced by Senator JAYE and referred to 
        the Committee on Appropriations.



        A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state con-

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

   allow direct or indirect state financial aid to 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 direct or indirect state financial

   aid to nonpublic schools, is proposed, agreed to, and submitted

   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

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





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

 2    color or national origin.

 3          No public monies or property shall be appropriated or
             paid

 4     or any public credit utilized, by the legislature or any
                       other

 5     political subdivision or agency of the state directly or
                       indi-

 6     rectly to aid or maintain any private, denominational or
                       other

 7     nonpublic, pre-elementary, elementary, or secondary school. 
                       No

 8     payment, credit, tax benefit, exemption or deductions,
                       tuition

 9     voucher, subsidy, grant or loan of public monies or property

10     shall be provided, directly or indirectly, to support the

11     attendance of any student or the employment of any person at
                       any

12     such nonpublic school or at any location or institution
                       where

13     instruction is offered in whole or in part to such nonpublic

14     school students.  The legislature may provide for the
                       transporta-

15     tion of students to and from any school. 

16         FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR BEGINNING IN 2001 AND FOR ALL SUCCEEDING

17    SCHOOL YEARS, THE LEGISLATURE SHALL PROVIDE BY LAW FOR A VOUCHER

18    SYSTEM TO SUPPORT THE ATTENDANCE OF PUPILS IN NONPUBLIC ELEMEN-

19    TARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS OR SHALL PROVIDE BY LAW FOR A CREDIT

20    AGAINST STATE INCOME TAXES FOR TUITION PAID BY A PARENT OR LEGAL

21    GUARDIAN OF A PUPIL ATTENDING A NONPUBLIC ELEMENTARY OR SECONDARY

22    SCHOOL, OR SHALL PROVIDE BY LAW FOR BOTH.  THE AMOUNT PAID TO A

23    NONPUBLIC SCHOOL FOR EACH PUPIL ATTENDING THE NONPUBLIC SCHOOL

24    UNDER A VOUCHER SYSTEM CREATED PURSUANT TO THIS PARAGRAPH SHALL

25    BE AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE AMOUNT PAID TO A

26    PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR A PUBLIC SCHOOL PUPIL.





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 1         Resolved further, That the foregoing amendment shall be

 2    submitted to the people of the state at the next general election

 3    in the manner provided by law.


















































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