A bill to create a Michigan National Guard child care assistance program to provide child care assistance to certain Michigan National Guard members; and to provide for the powers and duties of certain state governmental officers and entities.
The bill outlines the creation of a child care assistance program within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, to be administered by the Adjutant General. The program is designed to offer financial assistance to National Guard members who are in active service, not absent without leave, and meet other criteria set by the Adjutant General. Specifically, the assistance targets single parents and families where both spouses are eligible members, providing a stipend of $5.00 per hour for up to 12 hours a day during weekend drills and annual training, capped at 39 days per year.
To fund this initiative, the bill establishes the Michigan National Guard Child Care Assistance Fund within the state treasury. The fund will accumulate money and assets from various sources, with the state treasurer overseeing its investment and ensuring that interest and earnings are credited back to the fund. Importantly, any unspent money at the end of the fiscal year will remain in the fund, avoiding reversion to the general fund. The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs will manage the fund's audits, while the Adjutant General will be responsible for disbursing the funds as appropriated to support the child care assistance program.
This legislation modifies existing statutes by referencing the Michigan Military Act of 1967 and the Michigan Code of Military Justice of 1980, ensuring that only those members who comply with these laws are eligible for the program. The bill is expected to benefit National Guard members by alleviating child care costs, thereby supporting their service commitments and potentially enhancing recruitment and retention. However, the effectiveness of the program will depend on the availability of funds and the administrative efficiency of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The bill does not specify an implementation date, but the creation of the fund and the program's operational details suggest a structured timeline for rollout following legislative approval.
Co-sponsored by Reps.
Referred to the Committee on Military, Veterans and Homeland Security
