senate bills

Legislation barring drivers from sending or reading a text message while operating their vehicle moved forward in both chambers this week. In the House, members of the Lower Chamber gave their support to House Bills 4370 and 4394 which together prohibits the activity but makes a violation a secondary offense, meaning law enforcement cannot stop a vehicle for texting alone and dictating that a violation carries no points against the offending driver’s license.

The $4,000 scholarship for 96,000 Michigan college students was eliminated under a higher education conference committee report just reported out on a 4–2 vote.

Chair Rep. Joan Bauer (D-Lansing) voted against the budget along with Sen. Jim Barcia (D-Bay City). While it is unusual for a chair to oppose their own budget bill, Ms. Bauer said she couldn’t support the cuts to the Promise Grant and other scholarship programs.

Rep. George Cushingberry Jr. (D-Detroit) joined the three Republican members in voting the conference report approved.

Mr. Cushingberry said he plans to bring up a supplemental budget out at some point to restore funding for the Promise Grant.

The Algebra II mathematics requirement remains a hot topic for Michigan residents.  Jim Ballard and our association were named and quoted a Detroit Free Press article about the upcoming hearing on the Sheltrown Bill.

Judging from the 114 reader reactions, it appears that the readers agree with Jim by overwhelming opposing any attempt to lower the mathematics requirements.  Click here to read the articles comments.  Read at least a few pages of comments to get the general sentiments of the readers.

Last spring MASSP members were asked, "If you were King/Queen for a day, what would you do with the MME and MEAP?" This information was shared with Senators Swialski and Jelinek. They must have been impressed by what they learned. There is a significant section in the Senate version of the School Aid Act dealing with assessment.

MASSP members took action last week explaining to legislators why EXPLORE is important for all students entering high school. Their work was successful!

The Senate embraced member support with the following in the Senate version of HB 4447:

"MEAP and Merit Exam Changes. The Senate added language prohibiting exam funding to be spent on an expanded social studies exam, pattern scoring, or any assessments developed by the Department for the purposes of Sections 1278a and 1278b of the Revised School Code. Intent language also was added that the Department replace its current MEAP for grades 3-8 with the Iowa Test or a similar exam, and the allocation was included for the "Explore" exam in grades 8 or 9. (Sec. 104 and 104b))"

SENATE BILL No. 834

October 17, 2007, Introduced by Senators SWITALSKI and JACOBS and referred to the Committee on Education.

A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled

"The revised school code,"

by amending section 1278a (MCL 380.1278a), as added by 2006 PA 124.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

Sec. 1278a. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section

or section 1278b, beginning with pupils entering grade 8 in 2006,

the board of a school district or board of directors of a public

school academy shall not award a high school diploma to a pupil