Committee moves to refer bill allowing trade schools in dual-enrollment program

Daniel McMaster, representing the sponsor's office, testified the bill would amend the Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act to include trade schools as an eligible option for dual-enrollment. He said the change would let high-school students enroll in trade-school classes that offer certificates or other credentials when a public community college or ISD option is not available locally. "It allows you to leave high school, and attend some of those classes," McMaster said, citing local examples such as a LiUNA training facility near Perry, a welding school in Alma, a boat-building school in the eastern Upper Peninsula, and culinary programs.

Committee members asked how the proposal would interact with existing career and technical education (CTE) programs. Representative Wilson asked whether the change would duplicate or take away from CTE programs; McMaster said he viewed the bill as an additional option where circumstances warrant. Representative Colazar raised a question about the bill's definition of "trade" and what constitutes a "useful occupation" or a "recognized occupation," calling the language vague; McMaster said that definition may need to be clarified in subsequent drafting.

Written supporters recorded on the cards included Robert Jorrig (Michigan Labor's District Council), Dave Waltheis (Michigan Manufacturing Association), Beth Deshone (Great Lakes Education Project), and Eric Chappell (ABC of Michigan). The vice chair moved to refer House Bill 4154 to the House Committee on Rules; the clerk recorded the motion as prevailing and the bill was referred (the transcript's roll-call tally language is not fully legible on the record excerpt).