Committee on Higher Education Finance and Policy - 2/10/22

The financial burden facing students seeking education in law enforcement would be lessened under two bills that came before the Senate Higher Education Committee Thursday, February 10. SF 2965 would establish a new grant program offering $1500 per year to students enrolled in both two-year and four-year degree programs in criminal justice and SF 2964 would expand existing workforce development scholarships to students in law enforcement programs.

Citing the need for additional police officers amid declining enrollment in law enforcement degree programs around the state, Senator Justin Eichorn, R-Grand Rapids, said, "We think this is one small way that we can encourage our next generation of law enforcement professionals to go to those programs."

Brent Bradley, a law enforcement instructor at Hibbing Community College, testified that he attributes the high cost of attending college as a primary driver of declining enrollment. A graduate of Hibbing Community College, he told the committee that tuition is 300 percent higher than when he was a student. "The students have to invest more money to actually make less money than I did over 30 years ago," he said.

Both bills were laid over for possible inclusion in a supplemental budget.