2004 Senate Bill 1020 ↩

House Roll Call 189: Passed

To distribute Merit Award Scholarships, which go to high school graduates who have done well on the state MEAP test, in the State fiscal year that begins after the beginning of the academic year for which the student is eligible. Pushing back payment of the $2,500 scholarships ($1,000 for those who go to an out-of-state college) into the next fiscal year is a cost-saving accounting measure for the state. It is part of the solution negotiated by Gov. Jennifer Granholm for avoiding cuts in state programs in the face of lower-than-expected revenue in 2003 and 2004.