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Committee refers bill to allow trade schools as dual-enrollment options to Rules
Summary
House Bill 4,154 would amend the Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act to permit trade schools to participate in dual-enrollment for high school students. Committee heard testimony describing local trade programs; the bill was referred to the House Committee on Rules.
The House Education and Workforce Committee heard testimony on House Bill 4,154, which would expand the Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act to explicitly include trade schools and certificate programs as dual-enrollment options for high school students.
Daniel McMaster testified for Representative Beagle (who was absent) and described the proposal as a straightforward expansion. "It amends the Post Secondary Enrollment Options Act to include trade schools as an option for dual enrollment," McMaster said, listing local examples including a LiUNA training institute in Shiawassee County, a welding school in Alma, a building and construction program in Lansing, a boat-building program in the Eastern Upper Peninsula and culinary programs.
Members asked whether existing career and technical education (CTE) programs would be supplanted; McMaster said this would be an additional option, not a replacement. Representative Colazar asked how "trade school" and "useful employment" are defined; McMaster said that definition may need to be tightened in the bill language. Representative Wilson noted that many CTE programs already exist and asked why the change was needed; supporters from labor and industry filed cards in favor.
Supporters filing cards included Robert Jorrig (Michigan Laborers' District Council), David Waltheis (Michigan Manufacturing Association), Beth Deshone (Great Lakes Education Project) and Eric Chappell (ABC of Michigan). Vice Chair Linting moved to refer HB 4,154 to the House Committee on Rules; the clerk conducted a roll call and the motion prevailed. The committee record in the excerpt lists individual responses and many "pass" votes; the transcript does not include a clean current tally in the excerpt. The motion to refer prevailed and the bill was sent to Rules.
