MI Comp L § 388.1698d (2021)
2021 Michigan Compiled Laws|Chapter 388 - Schools and School Aid|Act 94 of 1979 - The State School Aid Act of 1979 (388.1601 - 388.1897l)|Article I - State Aid to Public Schools, Early Childhood, and Adult Education (388.1601...388.1772)|Section 388.1698d - Michigan Learning Channel (Mlc); Requirements; Report.

388.1698d Michigan learning channel (MLC); requirements; report.Sec. 98d.  (1) From the state school aid fund money appropriated under section 11, there is allocated for 2021-2022 an amount not to exceed $2,000,000.00 to Northern Michigan University to support the MLC as described in this section. Northern Michigan University shall not retain any portion of the funding received under this section for administrative purposes and shall provide funding to support the MLC. All of the following apply to the MLC:  (a) The MLC must be created to help bridge equity gaps in K to 12 education linked to a student's ability to engage in distance learning because of inadequate internet access or a lack of devices in the home.  (b) The MLC shall provide over-the-air broadcasts 24 hours each day for 7 days each week of quality instructional content that is aligned with this state's K to 12 educational standards. Over-the-air broadcasts as described in this subdivision must be streamed live and must be archived for on-demand viewing on a companion website, along with additional learning materials relevant to lessons.  (c) The MLC must be managed and operated by DPTV, and DPTV shall assume all risk, liability, and responsibility for the MLC in accordance with regulations by the United States Federal Communications Commission, PBS broadcast standards, and standard nonprofit business standards. DPTV shall serve as the fiduciary agent and service manager for the MLC. The MLC shall originate from a central operations center that is responsible for providing the infrastructure, content, and engagement of the MLC in partnership with this state's educational leadership organizations.  (d) The MLC shall require that DPTV provide technology, funding, staff training, and central management of the MLC to station partners to insert additional channels into each station's broadcast streams and to support staffing and engagement as outlined in a memorandum of understanding among the stations.  (e) The MLC shall require that DPTV partner with at least 5 other Michigan public television stations including, but not limited to, WKAR, WGVU, WDCQ, WCMU, and WNMU, to deliver the over-the-air MLC broadcasts described in this section and to support engagement with local educators. Stations described in this subdivision must be able to use the infrastructure provided by the MLC to develop their own local content that best serves their communities.  (f) The MLC shall not use the funds received from Northern Michigan University under this section in support of the MLC for any purposes fully funded by the governor's emergency education relief fund grant.  (2) Not later than February 1, 2022, the MLC shall provide a report to the house and senate appropriations subcommittees responsible for school aid, the house and senate fiscal agencies, and the state budget director detailing the MLC's compliance with ensuring that conditions listed under subsection (1) were met.  (3) Notwithstanding section 17b, the department shall make payments under this section not later than December 1, 2021.  (4) As used in this section:  (a) "DPTV" means Detroit public television.  (b) "MLC" means the Michigan learning channel. History: Add. 2020, Act 165, Eff. Oct. 1, 2020 ;-- Am. 2021, Act 48, Eff. Oct. 1, 2021