ADOPTED - JUNE 22, 2004

Agenda Item No. 21



Introduced by the Human Services Committee of the:





INGHAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS



RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF HOUSE BILLS 5865 AND 5866



RESOLUTION #04-197



WHEREAS, Public Act 245 of 1935 was established to provide education tuition assistance for the orphans of Michigan military service persons killed in war, and was later expanded to include children of veterans who died subsequently from a service-connected disability, and those with a total disability incurred in time of war or peace; and



WHEREAS, state funding for this program was initially provided to the State Board of Education and educational institutions; and



WHEREAS, Public Act 9 of 1946 established the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund to provide temporary emergency financial assistance to eligible wartime veterans and their dependents from the interest earned on the Trust; and



WHEREAS, Public Act 9 of 1946, the Administration of Public Act 245 - Education of Children of Veterans, was transferred to the Veterans Trust Fund Board of Trustees; and



WHEREAS, the use and cost of this Public Act 245 education program has continued to increase so that the cost out of the interest on the Trust is now near $1 million per year and rising; and



WHEREAS, the amount remaining from the interest on the Trust to help wartime veterans and their dependents throughout the State of Michigan with temporary financial emergencies is, in turn, declining to an amount now around $1 million per year, which is insufficient, requiring the Trust principle to be spent for this purpose; and



WHEREAS, Public Act 245 education costs continue to rise on the one hand, and actual cost of mortgage, utilities, groceries and other emergency needs continue to rise on the other requiring the Trust principal to be spent to help our veterans. The very future of the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund is in doubt, unless some action is finally taken to more appropriately fund Public Act 245 education program; and



WHEREAS, recent Trust Fund policy changes have severely limited the Ingham County Trust Fund committee and other Trust Fund committees across the State of Michigan in their ability to assist needy veterans; and



WHEREAS, emergency grant awards for Ingham County veterans and their dependents have decreased from $61,000 in FY 2000 to $34,113 in FY 2003; and



WHEREAS, the Michigan Legislature has been presented with House Bills 5865 and 5866; and



WHEREAS, these bills delete outdated sections of the Michigan Veterans Trust Fund Act, repeal Public Act 245 of 1935 to enact the new Children of Veterans Tuition Act providing a tuition waiver program to be administered by the Michigan Higher Education Authority beginning in 2004-2005.



ADOPTED - JUNE 22, 2004

Agenda Item No. 21



RESOLUTION #04-197

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Ingham County Board of Commissioners hereby expresses support for Michigan House Bills 5865 and 5866.



BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Ingham County Clerk is directed to send a copy of this resolution to the Ingham County state legislative delegation, Michigan Association of Counties and the Governor.



HUMAN SERVICES: Yeas: Hertel, Schor, Severino, Nevin

Nays: None Absent: Dedden, Weatherwax-Grant Approved 6/14/04