A bill to create a grant program to assist certain public institutions of higher education in addressing student hunger at those institutions; to provide for the powers and duties of certain state governmental officers and entities; and to require the promulgation of rules.
House Bill 5097 would have a minimal increase of costs to the state and an indeterminate increase of costs to public colleges and universities. Under the bill, the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential would be required to promulgate rules for the program and ensure general monitoring of institutions who participate. Costs to MiLEAP would fall to the Office of Higher Education and should be covered under current appropriation levels. Public universities and community colleges could face increased costs to implement aspects of the hunger-free campus program if the institutions decided to seek certification as a hungerfree campus from MiLEAP. Some aspects of the proposed program are already happening on a number of college campuses, such as a designated food pantry for students. Due to the variables in meeting aspects of the hunger-free campus program, from conducting student surveys, creating a meal donation program, and establishing and running a food pantry, the potential increased costs faced by public universities and community colleges that choose to participate in the program cannot be determined.
Co-sponsored by Reps.
Referred to the Committee on Higher Education
Reported with substitute H-1
