Committee adopts substitute and hears testimony to expand compact benefits to Guard and reserve members

Representative Pavlov offered and the committee adopted an H1 substitute to House Bill 48-13 that replaces the term “active duty” with “currently enlisted,” the clerk announced on a recorded roll call that the motion prevailed 10-0.

Representative Pablo presented testimony and introduced Michael Price, senior deputy director and director of strategic planning for the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. Colonel Michael Price, who also identified himself as state commissioner for the Military Interstate Children's Compact, told the committee the compact helps military-connected children transition between schools across state lines and that the current compact language does not cover National Guard members or reservists who are not federalized.

"The bottom line is it helps military connected kids transition between states," Colonel Price said. He described the compact's provisions for enrollment, placement, attendance, eligibility and graduation, saying the agreement "levels the playing field across all students that are connected to the military." Price said expanding the compact to include all components of the uniformed services would allow guardsmen and reservists who move within Michigan to keep comparable school placements and opportunities.

Committee members asked questions about terminology and alignment with the national compact. Colonel Price noted that the national commission permits each state to include Guard and reservists that are not federalized and recommended Michigan align its definition with the national compact to avoid omissions at the state level. Heather Fejerstein of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs submitted written support to the committee but did not speak.

The transcript includes several personal remarks from Price about frequent family moves and how transitions can affect students' social supports and mental health; he said military-connected children can experience higher levels of anxiety and depression because of repeated school transitions.

Action taken

- H1 substitute to House Bill 48-13 adopted by roll call (recorded as 10 yes, 0 no, 0 pass). Mover recorded as Representative Pavlov. Outcome: substitute adopted.

No further committee votes on the bill are recorded in the provided excerpt; committee staff and members indicated the committee would proceed with testimony after the substitute vote.