June 29, 2004, Introduced by Senators GEORGE, JELINEK, GOSCHKA, BIRKHOLZ, VAN WOERKOM, JACOBS, HARDIMAN, BRATER, CHERRY and ALLEN and referred to the Committee on Education.
A bill to prohibit the issuance and use of false academic
credentials; to prohibit false claims concerning academic
credentials; to provide for the powers and duties of certain
state officials; and to prescribe civil sanctions.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
1 Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the
2 "authentic credentials in education act".
3 Sec. 2. As used in this act:
4 (a) "Academic credential" means a degree or a diploma,
5 transcript, educational or completion certificate, or similar
6 document that indicates completion of a program of study or
7 instruction, completion of 1 or more courses, or the grant of an
8 associate, bachelor, master, or doctoral degree.
9 (b) "Department" means the department of labor and economic
10 growth.
1 (c) "False academic credential" means an academic credential
2 issued or manufactured by a person that is not a qualified
3 institution.
4 (d) "Qualified institution" means an institution of higher
5 education, as that term is defined in 20 USC 1001, located in the
6 United States or an educational institution located outside of
7 the United States and found by the department to meet standards
8 of academic quality comparable to those of an institution of
9 higher education located in the United States.
10 Sec. 3. A person shall not knowingly issue or manufacture a
11 false academic credential. If the director of the department
12 finds that a person has violated this section, the director may
13 assess a civil fine against that person of not more than
14 $20,000.00.
15 Sec. 4. (1) An individual shall not knowingly use a false
16 academic credential to obtain employment; to obtain a promotion
17 or higher compensation in employment; to obtain admission to a
18 qualified institution; or in connection with any loan, business,
19 trade, profession, or occupation.
20 (2) An individual who does not have an academic credential
21 shall not knowingly use or claim to have that academic credential
22 to obtain employment or a promotion or higher compensation in
23 employment; to obtain admission to a qualified institution; or in
24 connection with any loan, business, trade, profession, or
25 occupation.
26 (3) If the director of the department finds that an
27 individual has violated this section, the director may assess a
1 civil fine against that individual of not more than $1,000.00.