2007 House Bill 4851 / Public Act 34

Use borrowed college grant money to pay for current spending

Introduced in the House

May 24, 2007

Introduced by Rep. Andy Meisner (D-27)

To give the Michigan higher education student loan authority the authority to transfer money to the Michigan merit award trust fund, which was created to hold revenue from the 1998 tobacco company lawsuit settlement. Unlike money controlled by the authority directly, there is no restriction on the legislature using money in the merit award fund (which is a “trust” fund in name only) for any other purpose. The bill is part of an agreement to avoid spending cuts in the current fiscal year budget by borrowing up to $500 million, plus another $100 million from the student loan authority, which is itself borrowed money.

Referred to the Committee on Appropriations

May 30, 2007

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (H-2) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that only authorizes transferring money from the authority to the merit award fund in Fiscal Year 2007.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Passed in the House 101 to 5 (details)

To give the Michigan higher education student loan authority the authority to transfer money to the Michigan merit award trust fund. Unlike money controlled by the authority directly, there is no restriction on the legislature using money in the merit award fund (which is a “trust” fund in name only) for any other purpose. The bill is part of an agreement to avoid spending cuts in the current fiscal year budget by borrowing up to $410 million, plus another $80 to $90 million from the student loan authority, which is itself borrowed money.

Received in the Senate

May 31, 2007

Referred to the Committee on Appropriations

June 19, 2007

Reported without amendment

With the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.

June 20, 2007

Substitute offered

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance of the bill as previously described.

The substitute passed by voice vote

June 21, 2007

Passed in the Senate 36 to 0 (details)

To give the Michigan higher education student loan authority the authority to transfer money to the Michigan merit award trust fund. Unlike money controlled by the authority directly, there is no restriction on the legislature using money in the merit award fund (which is a “trust” fund in name only) for any other purpose. The bill is part of an agreement to avoid spending cuts in the current fiscal year budget by borrowing up to $410 million, plus another $80 to $90 million from the student loan authority, which is itself borrowed money.

Received in the House

June 21, 2007

June 26, 2007

Passed in the House 97 to 9 (details)

Signed by Gov. Jennifer Granholm

July 10, 2007