EXPAND FOSTERING FUTURES

SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY

House Bill 4406 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Gregory Markkanen

Committee:  Families, Children and Seniors

Complete to 5-15-19

SUMMARY:

House Bill 4406 would amend the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Act to expand eligibility requirements for a scholarship to include the foster care student’s attending a training program to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.

Currently, a foster care student is eligible for a Fostering Futures Scholarship if all of the following apply:

·         Due to child abuse or child neglect, the foster care student was in foster care after his or her thirteenth birthday.

·         The student is attending an institution of higher education in this state as determined by the Department of Treasury.

·         The student has an unmet financial education need.

·         The student has completed the application and provided the department with the required documentation.

·         The student maintains satisfactory academic progress as determined by the department.

The bill would amend the second requirement above to allow a student attending a training program to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation to also be eligible for a scholarship if the other requirements were met.

The bill would take effect 90 days after being enacted.

MCL 722.1027b

FISCAL IMPACT:

House Bill 4406 likely would increase costs by an unknown amount for the Fostering Futures Scholarship program by expanding the eligibility for participation. According to the Department of Treasury, the current balance of the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund is $26,423. Under the Fostering Futures Scholarship Trust Fund Act, the trust fund may accept money granted by the federal government for the purposes of the act, grants, bequests, donations, and contributions to the fund by individuals under section 435 of the Income Tax Act.

                                                                                         Legislative Analyst:   E. Best

                                                                                                 Fiscal Analyst:   Ben Gielczyk

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.