HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION L

 

 

April 19, 2017, Introduced by Reps. Kelly, Garcia, Hornberger and Glenn and referred to the Committee on Education Reform.

 

     A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state

 

constitution of 1963, by amending section 2 of article VIII, to

 

allow limited financial support for children with special needs to

 

attend any school of their choice, including nonpublic schools.

 

     Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the

 

state of Michigan, That the following amendment to the state

 

constitution of 1963, to allow limited financial support for

 

children with special needs to attend any school of their choice,

 

including nonpublic schools, is proposed, agreed to, and submitted

 

to the people of the state:

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

     Sec. 2. The legislature shall maintain and support a system of

 

free public elementary and secondary schools as defined by law.

 

Every school district shall provide for the education of its pupils

 

without discrimination as to religion, creed, race, color or

 

national origin.

 

     No Except as provided in this paragraph, no public monies or

 

property shall be appropriated or paid or any public credit

 

utilized, by the legislature or any other political subdivision or

 

agency of the state directly or indirectly to aid or maintain any

 

private, denominational or other nonpublic, pre-elementary,

 

elementary, or secondary school. No Except as provided in this

 

paragraph, no payment, credit, tax benefit, exemption or

 

deductions, tuition voucher, subsidy, grant or loan of public

 

monies or property shall be provided, directly or indirectly, to

 

support the attendance of any student or the employment of any

 

person at any such nonpublic school. or at any location or

 

institution where instruction is offered in whole or in part to

 

such nonpublic school students. The legislature may provide for the

 

transportation of students to and from any school. The legislature

 

shall provide financial support for children with special needs to

 

attend the school of their choice, including a nonpublic school, if

 

the amount of that financial support for a child does not exceed

 

the amount of additional financial support that would be provided

 

to a public school on the child's behalf due to his or her special

 

needs if the child were enrolled in a public school.

 

     Resolved further, That the foregoing amendment shall be

 

submitted to the people of the state at the next general election

 

in the manner provided by law.