The Senate Appropriations Committee sent
multiple budget proposals to the full Senate this week, with the most
significant changes proposed having to do with the Department of Education and
K-12 School Aid budgets. The Education budget (SB
765) was amended to require any student assessment tool involved in the RFP
process meet a long list of requirements, despite Committee Chair Roger Kahn
(R-Saginaw Township) voicing his disapproval.
Senator Patrick Colbeck (R-Canton Township)
proposed the amendment, which would require the Department to create a system
that measures student proficiency and growth on the current state curriculum
standards, as well as be capable of measuring individual student performance in
core subjects. The system must also be subject to a transparent comment and
review process. It must ensure students, parents, teachers, administrators and
community members are provided the reports conveying aggregate student
proficiency and growth data for a given school. The program has to be implemented
statewide with existing infrastructure “in a fully operational matter” no later
than the 2015-2016 school year.
Senator Hoon-Yung Hopgood (D-Taylor) won an
amendment requiring an individualized education program and other
services offered to special education students to follow that student if
he or she changes schools within the Education Achievement Authority or a state
reform district.
School Aid
The Senate’s proposed School Aid Budget, SB
775, increased the foundation allowance for students and eliminates
numerous categoricals in the process. The proposal also substantially increases
funding for the Michigan Public Services Employees Retirement System (MPSERS)
rate cap. The Senate Appropriations Committee also adopted an amendment that
would allow high schools with concurrent enrollment programs to have access to
incentive dollars appropriated by the Governor for dual enrollment programs.
Concurrent enrollment allows students to take a college course in the high
school rather than physically going to the community college. An amendment was
also adopted that would provide $330,000 in grant money for professional
development for teachers teaching Science, Technology, Engineering and
Mathematics (STEM) courses.
Licensing & Regulatory Affairs
The Senate budget proposal for the Department
of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) remained largely unchanged from how
it left the Subcommittee, with the exception of adopting an amendment that
included $700,000 the Governor recommended for elevator inspections. Senator
Mark Jansen (R-Gaines Township) had removed the money at first, until he could
have some more questions answered about it. Upon further review, Senator Jansen
decided the money was necessary because inspectors were behind and the Office
of Auditor General concluded that more money was needed. One major item
included was the creation of an $800,000 line item for Detroit demolitions and
the retention of boilerplate language that the Governor attempted to remove.
Insurance & Financial Services
SB
770, the proposed budget for the Department of Insurance and Financial
Services (DIFS), was reported without amendments. The biggest difference
between the Governor’s recommendation and the Senate’s proposal is the removal
of $150,000 to pay for a report on Healthy Michigan, the state’s Medicaid
Expansion law. The budget as written also concurs with the Governor’s
recommendation to not include funding for the state’s Autism Coverage Fund in
the next fiscal year due to a lack of claims so far.
Agriculture
SB
760, the budget for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development,
was sent to the full Senate with an amendment that removes a provision that
paid for thoroughbred horses that do not get a race day. The Senate
proposal for the department’s budget was slightly higher than that of the Governor,
while the House proposed slightly less. Most of that increase stemmed from the
Senate replacing $3.91 million from the Refined Petroleum Fund with General
Fund money.
Transportation
Senator Howard Walker (R-Traverse City) won
an amendment to SB
777 requiring the Department of Transportation to draft a report detailing
the feasibility of a pedestrian-only crossing in Petoskey. Senator Roger Kahn
(R-Saginaw) won an amendment intended to clarify the language of the Senate’s
position to not use state or federal money for the Detroit River International
Crossing bridge.
The Senate proposal includes $117 million
from the General Fund for transportation projects, with $115 million being
allocated generally among the Department and local governments according to PA
51. The other $2 million will go to the Regional Transit Authority. The $115
million was redirected from Governor Snyder’s proposal to use that money
strictly for bridge construction and the state trunkline system.
Human Services
The Department of Human Services budget
proposal, SB
769, was reported with 10 amendments, most of which either renamed programs
or clarified provisions already in the budget. The primary point of
difference between the Senate and the Governor’s recommendation is the
appropriation of about $18.8 million in supplemental payments for adopted
children with special needs. The payments can be claimed after an adoption is
finalized. Also included was a prohibition on negotiating adoption assistance
rates below the foster care rate.
The Senate proposal also funds a Juvenile
Justice Vision 20/20 database for courts, the Department, and private agencies.
The Senate increased funding for medical and psychological exams for children
and foster parent travel reimbursement.
Also included was an appropriation of more
than $14 million for Michigan Rehabilitative services and the Swift-and-Sure
Program for probationers.
Higher Ed
Senator Darwin Booher (R-Evart) won an
amendment that would require universities to issue a report on what
opportunities they provide high school students seeking to receive college
credit, something he had included in his community colleges budget. The bill, SB
768, made headlines in March because of a provision that penalizes Michigan
State University $500,000 for having involvement with union courses. The issue
did not come up during the hearing, however.
One highlight of the higher education budget
specific to the Senate is a $15 million appropriation from the School Aid Fund
to provide funding assistance to universities that have employees in MPSERS. The
amount is the same as what Senator Booher replaced with General Fund money
from his community colleges budget.
Community Colleges
SB
762 was reported without amendments. The budget does not include a 3.2
percent cap on tuition and fees increases to qualify for additional funds,
contrary to the Governor’s recommendation.
Military and Veterans Affairs
The only change in SB
773 from its Subcommittee version was an amendment won by Senator Colbeck
(R-Canton Township) that would remove some money for armory maintenance that
was already included in a recently-enacted supplemental.
Judiciary
SB
771, the Judiciary budget, was sent to the full Senate with an amendment by
Senator John Proos (R-St. Joseph). The amendment clarifies that current General
Fund money being allocated to the State Court Administrator’s Office would
fully fund a juvenile justice database. The other part of the amendment
cuts an additional $50,000 out of the Governor’s recommended increase in mental
health courts, instead funding the courts according to their original request.
State Police
The State Police budget SB
776, was amended by Senator Mike Green (R-Mayville) to include a report by
the Department on how much revenue it receives from concealed pistol license
applications and renewals.
Environmental Quality
The DEQ budget, SB
766 was sent to the Senate floor with no changes from subcommittee.