Leg-up for
Michigan vendors
Public schools
would be allowed to pay a premium for supplies and equipment if the additional
money went to a Michigan company under legislation approved by the state House
of Representatives in May.
Introduced by Rep.
Dudley Spade, D-Tipton, in January, House Bill 5639 would allow conventional
public schools, charter public schools or intermediate school districts to pay
10 percent more than the lowest bid, up to $100,000, when awarding a contract
for the purchase of supplies, material and equipment. In effect, the legislation
would require out-of-state bidders to beat an in-state offer by more than 10
percent.
The bill would
apply to single transactions costing more than $20,000, as well as material and
labor for construction. Rep. Jacob Hoogendyk, R-Kalamazoo, attempted
unsuccessfully to link House Bill 5639 to another bill that would exempt public
school construction or repair projects from the state’s prevailing wage law.
Hoogendyk’s proposal failed in a voice vote.
The bill passed on
an 88-20 vote on May 21 and was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee
on May 27.
Track this item
online:
www.michiganvotes.org/2008-HB-5639
Parents would
elect charter boards
Parents would be
allowed to nominate candidates and elect the board of directors of public school
academies under legislation introduced by Rep. Mary Valentine, D-Muskegon, on
May 22.
Currently, the
authorizing body of each public school academy (more commonly called charter
school) in Michigan decides the number of board members, term limits and method
of selection of board members in the schools it oversees. In many cases, current
charter board members nominate and elect newcomers subject to authorizers’
approval.
Under House Bill
6177, the parents of students enrolled in the school would nominate and elect
candidates to the board. Schools already in operation would be required to hold
a new board election within 120 days after the bill is signed into law, and new
schools would be required to hold an election within 120 days after the opening
date.
The bill was
referred to the House Education Committee.
Track this item
online at
www.michiganvotes.org/2008-HB-6177
No college aid
for non-citizens
College students
in Michigan who are not U.S. residents would be ineligible for scholarships,
loans and other state financial assistance under a package of 12 bills
introduced by nine state lawmakers in May.
The assorted bills
would require that any student receiving the Michigan Merit Award, state
competitive scholarship, state college loans, work-study assistance, nursing
scholarships or any of a variety of grants must be a citizen or in the process
of becoming one legally. The provisions would apply to all students, including
part-time independent students and those who receive tuition waivers as the child
or surviving spouse of a Michigan corrections officer killed in the line of
duty.
All of the bills
were referred to the House Oversight and Investigations Committee on May 21.
Track these items online:
www.michiganvotes.org/2008-HB-6135 (through HB-6146)
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