SB-0861, As Passed House, June 8, 2006

SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE BILL NO. 861

     A bill to amend 1999 PA 94, entitled

"Michigan merit award scholarship act,"

by amending section 7 (MCL 390.1457), as amended by 2004 PA 595.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

     Sec. 7. (1) The Michigan merit award scholarship program is

established. The board shall administer the Michigan merit award

scholarship program.

     (2) Subject to subsection (6) and section 7b(2) and (5), and

to adjustment under subsection (4), each student enrolled in grade

11 in or after the 1998-1999 school year and before the 2006-2007

school year who meets the eligibility requirements of this

subsection and section 7b(1) is eligible for the award of a

$2,500.00 Michigan merit award scholarship if the student is

enrolled in an approved postsecondary educational institution in

this state or in a service academy.  , or  Subject to subsection

(6) and section 7b(2) and (5), and to adjustment under subsection

(4), each student enrolled in grade 11 in or after the 1998-1999

school year who graduated from high school before the 2006-2007

school year and who meets the eligibility requirements of this

subsection and section 7b(1) is eligible for the award of a

$1,000.00 Michigan merit award scholarship if the student is

enrolled in an approved postsecondary educational institution

outside this state other than a service academy.  , if the board

finds A student is eligible under this subsection if the board

finds that the student while in high school  has  had taken the

high school assessment test in the subject areas of reading,

writing, mathematics, and science and  meets  met 1 of the

following:

     (a)  Has received  Received qualifying results in each of the

subject areas of reading, writing, mathematics, and science.

     (b) Did not receive qualifying results in 1 or 2 of the

subject areas of reading, writing, mathematics, and science, but

received an overall score in the top 25% of a nationally recognized

college admission examination.

     (c) Did not receive qualifying results in 1 or 2 of the

subject areas of reading, writing, mathematics, and science, but

received a qualifying score or scores as determined by the board on

a nationally recognized job skills assessment test designated by

the board.

     (3) Subject to subsection (6) and section 7b(5) and to

adjustment under subsection (4), each student enrolled in grade 11

in or after the 2006-2007 school year who meets the requirements of

section 7b(1) is eligible for the award of a $2,500.00 Michigan

merit award scholarship if the student is enrolled in an approved

postsecondary educational institution in this state or in a service

academy,  or the award of a $1,000.00 Michigan merit award

scholarship if the student is enrolled in an approved postsecondary

educational institution outside this state other than a service

academy, if the board finds that the student while in high school

has  had taken the Michigan merit examination and  meets  met 1 of

the following:

     (a)  Has received  Received qualifying results in each of the

subject area components of the Michigan merit examination.

     (b) Did not receive qualifying results in each of the subject

area components of the Michigan merit examination, but received an

overall score in the top 25% of a nationally recognized college

admission examination.

     (c) Did not receive qualifying results in each of the subject

area components of the Michigan merit examination, but received a

qualifying score or scores as determined by the board on a

nationally recognized job skills assessment test designated by the

board.

     (4) In any fiscal year, the board may adjust the amount of a

Michigan merit award scholarship available to students eligible

under 1 or more of subsections (2), (3), and (5), based upon its

determination of available resources and amounts appropriated, but

the board shall not increase an amount by more than 5% in any

fiscal year. The board shall notify the governor, the speaker of

the house of representatives, and the majority leader of the senate

in writing at least 30 days before an adjustment under this

subsection.

     (5) If a student who has previously received a $1,000.00

Michigan merit award scholarship under this section as a student

enrolled in an approved postsecondary educational institution

outside of this state other than a service academy enrolls in an

approved postsecondary educational institution in this state and

meets the requirements of section 7b(1), and subject to adjustment

under subsection  (4), the student is eligible for the award of an

additional $1,500.00 Michigan merit award scholarship.

     (6) If the United States department of education has not

approved the use of the Michigan merit examination for the purposes

of the federal no child left behind act of 2001, Public Law 107-

110, by December 31, 2006, all of the following apply:

     (a) Eligibility for a Michigan merit award scholarship under

this section shall be determined under subsection (2) until the

next calendar year that begins after that approval occurs.

     (b) Eligibility for a Michigan merit award scholarship under

this section shall be determined under subsection (3) beginning in

the next calendar year that begins after that approval occurs.