March 29, 2007, Introduced by Reps. Meisner, Hammon, Hammel, Donigan, Accavitti, Byrnes, Sheltrown, Lahti, Tobocman, Dean, Condino, Johnson, Clack, Leland, Robert Jones, Polidori, Young, Valentine, Kathleen Law, Vagnozzi, Cushingberry, Hopgood, Ebli, Lemmons, Miller, Gonzales, Clemente, Constan, Bauer and Jackson and referred to the Committee on Commerce.
A bill to provide tuition reimbursement for certain
entrepreneurship courses; and to prescribe the powers and duties of
certain state departments.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the
"entrepreneurship education act".
Sec. 3. As used in this act:
(a) "Approved school" means any of the following:
(i) A degree or certificate granting college, university, or
community or junior college in this state.
(ii) A school licensed or regulated by the department to do
business in this state.
(iii) A state or federal agency or commission.
(iv) A nonprofit association, corporation, or foundation
approved by the department to provide courses in entrepreneurship.
(b) "Courses in entrepreneurship" means educational courses or
classes that provide a student with the fundamental aspects of
starting or operating a small business or venture, including, but
not limited to, the profile of an entrepreneur, opportunity
recognition, business feasibility assessment, building a business
model, industry and market competition, market analysis, pricing,
financial analysis and statements relating to start-up costs,
operational expenses, and cash flow, raising capital, and
developing a business plan. The term includes, but is not limited
to, a course that is part of a broader curriculum or degree or
certificate program in entrepreneurial or small business management
or administration.
(c) "Department" means the department of labor and economic
growth.
(d) "Eligible student" means an individual who meets all of
the following:
(i) Has not previously received any tuition reimbursement from
the department under this act.
(ii) Is a United States citizen or permanent resident of the
United States.
(iii) Has resided continuously in this state for the 12 months
immediately preceding the academic year and is not a resident of
any other state.
(iv) Has not been convicted of a felony involving an assault,
physical injury, or death.
(v) Meets any other standards established in rules promulgated
by the department under this act.
(e) "Fund" means the entrepreneurship education grant fund
created in section 5.
Sec. 5. (1) The entrepreneurship education grant fund is
established in the department of treasury. The fund shall consist
of money appropriated, donated, or paid to the fund from any source
and interest and earnings from fund investments.
(2) The state treasurer shall direct the investment of the
fund.
(3) Money in the fund at the close of a fiscal year shall
remain in the fund and shall not revert to the general fund.
(4) Money in the fund shall be disbursed to the department for
tuition reimbursements under this act and the administrative costs
of the department in implementing and administering this act.
Sec. 7. (1) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), an eligible
student who successfully completes 1 or more courses in
entrepreneurship at an approved school is eligible for and may
receive reimbursement from the department for the tuition he or she
paid the approved school for the course or courses. To receive
reimbursement under this subsection, the student must submit an
application for reimbursement to the department that includes a
certificate of completion from the approved school, or other
verification acceptable to the department of successful completion
of the course or courses, and proof of the amount he or she paid
the approved school for tuition for the course or courses.
(2) The department may establish the form or format of the
tuition reimbursement application and may require that an eligible
student provide additional evidence of successful completion of the
course or courses or proof of payment of tuition after the
department has reviewed his or her grant application.
(3) The maximum amount of tuition reimbursement an eligible
student may receive under this act is the amount of tuition paid by
the student to the approved school for the course or courses in
entrepreneurship, or $300.00, whichever is less.
(4) A student who has previously received tuition
reimbursement under subsection (3) in any amount is not eligible
for and shall not receive tuition reimbursement under this act for
successful completion of any other courses in entrepreneurship.
Sec. 9. (1) The department shall annually assess the
performance of approved schools in providing effective
entrepreneurship education.
(2) The authority may promulgate rules pursuant to the
administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to
24.328, to do any of the following:
(a) To implement and administer this act.
(b) To regulate the offering of courses in entrepreneurship,
including, but not limited to, the type and conditions of
instruction, the qualification of instructors, the methods of
grading, the means of monitoring and reporting attendance, and the
representations made by approved schools concerning the course or
courses.