HOUSE BILL NO. 5832

A bill to create a Michigan National Guard child care assistance program to provide child care assistance to certain Michigan National Guard members; and to provide for the powers and duties of certain state governmental officers and entities.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 1. This act may be cited as the "Michigan National Guard child care assistance act".

Sec. 2. As used in this act:

(a) "Active service" means that term as defined in section 105 of the Michigan military act, 1967 PA 150, MCL 32.505.

(b) "Adjutant general" means the adjutant general of this state.

(c) "Eligible member" means a member of the Michigan National Guard who meets all of the following conditions:

(i) Is in active service.

(ii) Is not absent without leave or under charges described in the Michigan code of military justice of 1980, 1980 PA 523, MCL 32.1001 to 32.1148.

(iii) Any other criteria determined by the adjutant general consistent with Michigan National Guard recruiting and retention requirements.

(d) "Fund" means the Michigan National Guard child care assistance fund created in section 4.

(e) "Program" means the Michigan National Guard child care assistance program created in section 3.

Sec. 3. (1) The Michigan National Guard child care assistance program is created within the department of military and veterans affairs.

(2) The adjutant general shall administer the program and prescribe forms and procedures to effectively carry out the program. The adjutant general shall promulgate rules to implement this act under the administrative procedures act of 1969, 1969 PA 306, MCL 24.201 to 24.328.

(3) An eligible member may apply for child care assistance from the program. The adjutant general shall approve the application if there is sufficient money in the fund to cover the amount of child care assistance applied for, and if either of the following applies:

(a) The eligible member is a single parent.

(b) The eligible member's spouse is an eligible member.

(4) An eligible member who is approved for child care assistance shall receive a stipend at the rate of $5.00 per hour, for 12 hours a day for weekend drills and annual training, up to a maximum of 39 days each year.

Sec. 4. (1) The Michigan National Guard child care assistance fund is created in the state treasury.

(2) The state treasurer shall deposit money and other assets received from any source in the fund. The state treasurer shall direct the investment of money in the fund and credit interest and earnings from the investments to the fund.

(3) Money in the fund at the close of the fiscal year remains in the fund and does not lapse to the general fund.

(4) The department of military and veterans affairs is the administrator of the fund for audits of the fund.

(5) The adjutant general shall expend money from the fund on appropriation only to provide child care assistance under the program as provided in section 3.