http://www.legislature.mi.gov/%28S%28y2rrbu45d2z421yucrtnyz45%29%29/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=2009-SB-0786

In the spring of 2008, Michigan proprietary schools were informed the state would be enforcing an antiquated 1943 law that prohibited school owners from charging the public nominal fees for goods or services produced by the school's students. This law had not been enforced for almost twenty years. The majority proprietary school owners were totally unaware of its existence. Due to the change in the enforcement of a Michigan state law which placed constraints on the ability to generate revenue within the business, numerous schools were forced to abandon their hands-on training programs. “We vigorously struggled to have the law amended through State legislation. In the spring of 2009, we were granted a waiver to operate ‘as we have’ until the proposed bill was settled,” stated Melissa Verplank, founder of the Paragon School of Pet Grooming and author of the internationally acclaimed training guide, Notes From the Grooming Table. “We resumed our highly respected hands-on training program last summer but were still holding our breath. We are thrilled with Senate Bill No. 786 that was passed on January 4, 2010.”

Business conducted today is much different from the way it was conducted in 1943. Enforcement of this law would have had a devastating impact on many technical skills training programs throughout the state of Michigan. Today, technical training plays a vital role in training individuals to gain skillful work in our state. By amending this law with Senate Bill No. 786, it allows proprietary schools to provide training for a wide range of jobs, retaining people in the state of Michigan.

For more information on Senate Bill No. 786, go to: www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(nicrq355eijwca550beyrr55))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=2009-SB-0786

The Paragon School of Pet Grooming was licensed by the Michigan Department of Education in December, 1991. Its founder, Melissa Verplank, has over thirty years experience within the grooming industry. Ms. Verplank is a Certified Master Groomer, an international award winning pet stylist, a team member of GroomTeam USA and a former Coordinator for GroomTeam USA. Currently she is a grooming contest judge, lecturer, author, multiple business owner, and Founder of The Paragon School of Pet Grooming.