Legislative Analysis
Phone: (517) 373-8080
NATIONAL GUARD TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
http://www.house.mi.gov/hfa
House Bill 4199 as enacted Analysis available at
Public Act 33 of 2023 http://www.legislature.mi.gov
Sponsor: Rep. Jennifer Conlin
House Committee: Military, Veterans and Homeland Security
Senate Committee: Veterans and Emergency Services
Complete to 8-8-23
SUMMARY:
House Bill 4199 amends the Michigan National Guard Tuition Assistance Act to authorize the
adjutant general to establish a policy that allows one or more of the following individuals who
are family members of an eligible National Guard member to use the National Guard member’s
tuition assistance under the act in a manner prescribed by the adjutant general:
• A lawfully married spouse.
• A dependent child, stepchild, or legally adopted child who is at least 18 years of age or
who has graduated from high school or obtained a high school diploma equivalent
certificate. An individual using the tuition assistance under this provision must do so
before reaching the age of 26.
The National Guard tuition assistance program helps eligible members of the Michigan
National Guard pay for a course of study that is intended to culminate in vocational or technical
training, a certificate, or the individual’s first associate degree, bachelor’s degree, or master’s
degree. To be eligible, a National Guard member must be in active service, not be absent
without leave, not be under code of military justice charges, and meet other conditions
established by the adjutant general. The adjutant general is the administrator of the program. 1
The bill also increases the maximum balance of the National Guard Tuition Assistance Fund.
The fund was previously capped at $10.0 million under the act, with any balance in excess of
that amount lapsing to the general fund. The bill increases this cap to $15.0 million.
MCL 32.433 and 32.434
FISCAL IMPACT:
An extension of benefits would result in increased payments from the Tuition Assistance Fund.
The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) has estimated that changes in the
bill would add costs of approximately $5.0 million. However, actual demand and costs are not
yet known. The need for additional general fund/general purpose (GF/GP) appropriations to
the fund would depend on participation and the amount of benefits paid to newly eligible
spouses and dependents of eligible servicemembers.
The Tuition Assistance Fund may receive money from any source for deposit into the fund and
has been supported annually through state GF/GP deposits appropriated to the DMVA’s
1
For further information, see https://www.michigan.gov/dmva/about/mingstap
House Fiscal Agency Page 1 of 2
 budget. Money remaining in the fund at the end of the fiscal year remains in the fund and does
not lapse to the general fund. Currently, the balance in the fund must not exceed $10.0 million.
Any balance in excess of $10.0 million will lapse to the general fund. A deposit into the fund
to cover the costs of expanded eligibility that is in addition to the ongoing appropriation would
result in a total balance more than $10.0 million. By raising the maximum fund balance to
$15.0 million, the bill would allow additional funding to remain in the fund and not lapse to
the general fund. The fiscal year (FY) 2021-22 closing balance of the fund was $5.9 million.
Program participation has increased each year, with numbers tapering in FY 2020-21. Despite
increasing participation, the annual appropriation has remained largely steady at approximately
$6.5 million, with the exception of FY 2018-19, in which the program received an additional
$2.5 million supplemental appropriation.
The DMVA has previously reported that it has achieved efficiencies within the Michigan
National Guard Tuition Assistance Program (MINGTAP), such as ensuring that payments are
in accordance with statutory and policy grade point average (GPA) requirements and that
federal tuition assistance payments are utilized before MINGTAP payments, which has
decreased payments for ineligible benefits. DMVA anticipates that this will add to the fund
balance, and it is factored into their estimate of $5.0 million required to cover benefits added
under the bill. If an extension of benefits is not enacted, the annual GF/GP appropriation to the
program may need to be decreased, or the fund balance may exceed $10.0 million and any
amount in excess of $10.0 million will lapse to the general fund.
Tuition Assistance Fund Appropriations, Expenditures, Balances, and Participation
FY 2016-17 FY 2017-18 FY 2018-19 FY 2019-20 FY 2020-21 FY 2021-22
Appropriations $3,505,000 $6,507,000 $9,006,700 $6,509,900 $6,516,600 $6,521,900
Expenditures
Tuition/Fees $5,649,560 $5,771,804 $4,700,313 $4,989,981 $4,509,544 $5,082,858
Administrative $589,612 $594,428 $265,178 NA $459,808 $615,437
Total $ 6,239,172 $6,366,233 $6,850,633 $5,760,984 $4,969,352 $5,698,295
Fund Balance NA $463,990 $2,620,057 $3,434,383 $4,991,456 $5,861,425
Participation*
Air Guard 183 350 402 477 367 322
Army Guard 922 1,301 1,268 1,244 1,091 945
Total 1,105 1,651 1,670 1,721 1,458 1,267
Est. Avg. Per $5,646 $3,856 $3,981 $3,379 $3,408 $4,497
Student
*Note: Participation numbers represent total applications received and include applications that have been rejected or did not
receive payment due to eligibility requirements.
Legislative Analyst: E. Best
Fiscal Analyst: Michael Cnossen
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their
deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
House Fiscal Agency HB 4199 as enacted Page 2 of 2


Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 32.433, 32.434
As Passed by the House: 32.433, 32.434
As Passed by the Senate: 32.433, 32.434
House Concurred Bill: 32.433, 32.434
Public Act: 32.433, 32.434