Virtual education has become easier for those who want to further education from home.
Legislative briefs
Virtual ed gets boost
A law sponsored by Rep. Jason Allen, R-Traverse City, creates the Career Development and Distance Learning Act to establish and regulate distance learning companies, enabling students, especially those in rural areas, to participate in a class their schools do not offer.
The bill was signed into law by Gov. John Engler on Tuesday.
Lindsay Frederickson
Petitions reach capital
Dozens of boxes filled with a petition to reverse the ban on straight-party voting were carted into the Bureau of Elections in Lansing on Thursday..
The petition contained more than 250,000 signatures of Michiganians who want to place a referendum on the November ballot allowing voters to cast a single vote to elect all the candidates of a specific political party. It was eliminated in January.
To place the referendum on the ballot, 151,356 valid petition signatures were needed - more than 250,000 were collected.
Lindsay Frederickson
Engler vetoes speed law
A house bill which would allow township officials to set their own speed laws was rejected by Gov. Engler on March 15.
Under this bill, township leaders, the county road commission and the director of the Department of State Police could work together to determine legal speed limits on county highways.
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Elissa Englund
Michigan week set
The week of May 18-27 was recently named Michigan Week 2002 by Gov. John Engler. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Michigan’s Diversity.”
Michigan Week is held each May.
For more information, visit the Department of History, Arts and Libraries at www.michigan.gov/hal.
Elissa Englund
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Funding redistributed
Abstinence programs that don’t provide contraception would receive funding priority under a measure amended by state Sen. Dale Shugars, R-Portage, on Wednesday.
The Department of Community Health budget proposal includes $2.1 million in federal funds for the Michigan Abstinence Partnership.
Shugars’ amendment ensures funding priority to those programs that involve parents and do not send a “mixed message” to students.
The measure now goes to the House of Representatives for consideration.
Lindsay Frederickson
