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HB 4954

Higher education: financial aid; eligible recipients of the police officer's and fire fighter's survivor tuition grant; expand to include medical examiners and medical examiner investigators. Amends title & secs. 1, 2, 3 & 4 of 1996 PA 195 (MCL 390.1241 et seq.).

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Aragona and 4 co-sponsors

Michigan bill expands tuition grant program for families of deceased/disabled police and firefighters to include medical examiners and investigators.

bill electronically reproduced 09/16/2025
#health:medicalexaminers #highereducation:financialaid
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Bill Summary · HB 4954

Legislative bill overview

HB 4954 expands Michigan's existing Police Officer's and Fire Fighter's Survivor Tuition Grant program to include the families of deceased or disabled medical examiners and medical examiner investigators. The bill amends the 1996 law governing this financial aid program to broaden eligibility criteria for tuition assistance at Michigan public universities.

Why is this important

This expansion recognizes medical examiners and their investigators as public safety professionals whose work carries occupational risks similar to law enforcement and firefighting. Families of these professionals would gain access to tuition grants that help offset the financial burden of college education following the death or disability of a family's primary earner.

Potential points of contention

  • Program cost and budget impact: Expanding eligibility increases state expenditures on tuition grants, which may face scrutiny during budget negotiations or if funding is not appropriated separately
  • Occupational risk classification: Determining whether medical examiners face comparable line-of-duty death/injury risks as police and firefighters may be debated; medical examiner work involves lower direct physical threat but potential infectious disease exposure
  • Scope creep concerns: Some may argue this sets precedent for expanding the program to other public sector workers (coroners, public health officials, etc.), raising questions about where to draw the line

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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