Michigan Federation of Teachers & School Related Personnel
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Michigan Federation of Teachers & School Related Personnel
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Capitol Report Archives Go to current Capitol Report for links to complete archive. September, 2004 August, 2004 July, 2004 June, 2004 May, 2004 April, 2004 March, 2004 February, 2004 January, 2004 2003-04 Voting Records 2003 2002 2001 2000 |
Education Budgets Signed Laws Allow Detroit Public Schools to Employ Police Officers Senate Education Committee Moves New Version of ISD Package Timing of High School MEAP Test Moved Up "S" School Bus Endorsement Required for Bus Drivers Proposal 1 Could Jeopardize School Aid Fund may be found on the Legislative Hotline page of this website.  Return to Top Education Budgets Signed Governor Granholm signed the three education budget bills into law with no line-item vetoes. Under Public Act 351, 2004 (SB 1069), all schools will continue to receive at least $6,700 per student and the state's hold-harmless schools continue to receive additional funds to make up for slower growth in their foundations grants under the school aid budget. The budget contains $12.53 billion ($165.2 million general fund) including restoration of $131 million cut from schools as part of the last round of budget cuts. It also includes a change in the weighting of pupil counts from 80 percent on the current fall count and 20 percent on the prior spring count to 75-25. (For section by section details refer to the September 2004 Capitol Report on our website at http://mftsrp.org/capitolSE04.html#schoolaid.) As signed into law, Public Act 352, 2004 (SB 1067) state public universities will split $1.7 billion ($1.6 billion in general funds), and 11 of the 15 would be able to raise tuition during the next fiscal year. But it cuts $3 million in grants to students at private colleges and universities. (For details please refer to the September 2004 Capitol Report or our website at http://mftsrp.org/capitolSE04.html#higher.) Community colleges will share $285.7 million, all in general funds, and will be permitted to raise tuition by no more than 2.8 percent under Public Act 358, 2004 (SB 1062). (For details please refer to the September 2004 Capitol Report or our website at http://mftsrp.org/capitolSE04.html#community.) Return to Top Laws Allow Detroit Public Schools to Employ Police Officers Three bills that allow Detroit Public Schools to continue their own police department without getting the approval of the Wayne County Sheriff have been signed into law by Governor Granholm. Public Act 380 (HB 5121 - Hunter, D-Detroit), Public Act 378 (HB 5906 - Van Regenmorter, R-Hudsonville), and Public Act 379 (HB 5907 - Van Regenmorter, R-Hudsonville) make all of the state's police agencies conform to the regulations of the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (M-COLES) Act. For the most part, all political bodies putting a police force on the streets need the approval of the county sheriff, the city police department, and the local prosecutor. However, Detroit was given special consideration because their school district is drawn up entirely within the city. Detroit law enforcement officials insisted that approval should lie entirely in the hands of the chief of police Return to Top Senate Education Committee Moves New Version of ISD Package The Senate Education Committee has reported the six-bill ISD Accountability Package II to the Senate floor with the promise of finishing the package after the November general election. The following is a run-down of the ISD accountability package reported by the Senate Education Committee:
Return to Top Timing of High School MEAP Test Moved Up Governor Granholm has signed one of two bills that require the MEAP test to be administered to pupils prior to the last 90 school days of grade 11. Currently, schools must administer the test during the last 30 school days of grade 11. These bills were introduced in response to the state being cited for not having its high school report cards out before the beginning of the school year as required by federal law. House Bill 6230 (Palmer, R-Romeo) also changes references from the Department of Treasury to the Department of Education. House Bill 6231 ( Public Act 399 - Palmer, R-Romeo) transfers the following responsibilities from the Superintendent of Public Instruction to the Department of Education:
In addition, the law currently requires the Department of Treasury and any other State agency to give a school advance notice of suspected irregularities in MEAP administration or preparation, before reporting to anyone not involved in scoring or administering the test. House Bill 6231 extends this requirement to the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Return to Top "S" School Bus Endorsement Required for Bus Drivers To comply with requirements of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Improvement Act, the Secretary of State will begin requiring commercial driver applicants who operate a school bus to obtain an "S" endorsement on their driver's license.
The Secretary of State's ability to waive the driving skills test for current drivers will end September 30, 2005. After that date, any commercial driver seeking an "S" endorsement will be required to pass both the written knowledge test and the driving skills test. The "S" endorsement fee is $5. This fee is in addition to any applicable driver's license correction or renewal fees (if applicable) and driving skills test fees. For detailed information to the Secretary of State's website at http://www.michigan.gov/sos/. Click on Driver License and State ID at the left side of the screen. The top two articles on the top of the next page will give you all of the available information. Return to Top Proposal 1 Could Jeopardize School Aid Fund The MFT&SRP, the education community, and Governor Granholm oppose Proposal 1 based on the idea that, if passed, it would put the Lottery revenue to the state's School Aid Fund (SAF) in jeopardy. Proposal 04-1 ballot language reads as follows:
All profits from the lottery go into the School Aid Fund. Since its inception in 1972, the Lottery has provided $11.62 billion towards our schools. In FY 2004 the expected contribution will be $644 million. While this represents a small percentage of the $12-plus billion needed for schools, if it is reduced, school budgets will have to also be reduced. If passed, this ballot proposal would undermine the Michigan Lottery's ability to manage their games, improve them, and maintain player interest by developing new games like Club Keno. Proposal 1 would force the Michigan Lottery to conduct 1700 local elections before launching any new games - a silly waste of taxpayer money, which in turn means less money for the education. While Proposal 1 would provide for a public vote, voting would not be an option for the Lottery. As a state agency, the Lottery would first have to obtain legislative approval of ballot language, which could be a significant process in itself. But it would then be prohibited from spending any money on a campaign, while the opposition would most likely have unlimited amounts to spend. The Indian and Detroit casinos, who would be exempt from Proposal 1 restrictions, are outspending the President George W. Bush campaign in Michigan by more than $500,000 over the TV airwaves in their efforts to pass Proposal 1. Rarely, if ever, has so much been spent by one side on TV ads for a ballot proposal. Rich Robinson, director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, indicates that Let Voters Decide, Yes campaign has already spent $3.4 million on TV ads across the state. The Bush campaign and the Republican National Committee have spent $2.9 million. (MIRS Capitol Capsule, Thursday, October 14, 2004)
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