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We have learned that Governor Whitmer has signed HB 4048, the latest school-aid stimulus supplemental, with several line-item vetoes included, while outright vetoing HB 4049, the linked bill that sought to transfer certain pandemic response authority from the state to local health departments.
The veto of HB 4049, an action most expected as Governor Whitmer has repeatedly insisted she will not sign away pandemic response authority as part of budgetary negotiations, means that $840.2 million in federal stimulus money that the legislature tied to HB 4049 now remains unappropriated and is not included in the funding being distributed to schools under HB 4048.
In addition to the veto of HB 4049, the Governor used her line-item veto authority to remove sections of HB 4048 including the $10 million in GEER funding for a parent voucher program, and $86.8 million in non-public school funding. The Governor's Office will also be stating that they are continuing to look at the constitutionality & enforceability of certain other provisions contained in HB 4048, which may include the requirement that schools offer 20 hours/week of in in-person learning by March 22nd to be eligible for the additional state-aid for districts not receiving at least $450 per-pupil in federal support.
We will be seeking additional clarification from the Governor's Office on these provisions and will keep you updated as we learn more information. We will also be continuing to make the case that this continued delay in fully allocating the entirety of the federal stimulus money is directly impacting our ability to plan for critically needed programs for our schools & our students and that politics must be put aside to get that funding out the door and to our districts as quickly as possible.
Please let us know if you have additional questions
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Robert McCann
Executive Director
Katie Whitman-Herzer
Administrative Director
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