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Legislation watch
2020 House Bill 5911: Authorize Remote Public School Instruction Only in 2020-21 (as passed)
Public Act 147 of 2020
Introduced by Rep. Greg Markkanen (R) on May 24, 2020
To revise various provisions in a law that limits public school students from taking more than two online “virtual” courses per semester. The bill would allow this for courses designed to meet a student’s “academic deficiency” in one or more subjects, or, in the 2020-21 school year only, if parents request this due to “health, safety, and welfare concerns related to” the coronavirus epidemic. The bill would allow funds to pay for students to take individual courses from online charter schools or public universities, while also establishing new standards and criteria these classes would have to meet. Official Text and Analysis.
Referred to the House Education Committee on May 24, 2020
Reported in the House on July 21, 2020
Refer to the Committee on Ways and Means.
Referred to the House Ways and Means Committee on July 21, 2020
Reported in the House on July 22, 2020
Without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill pass.
Amendment offered by Rep. Thomas Albert (R) on July 22, 2020
To assert that the bill "must not be construed as imposing mandates on nonpublic schools".
The amendment passed by voice vote in the House on July 22, 2020
Received in the Senate on July 23, 2020
Referred to the Senate Education and Career Readiness Committee on July 23, 2020
To waive limits on public school students taking online “virtual” online courses for credit during the coronavirus epidemic.
Received in the House on August 17, 2020
Signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on August 20, 2020