SR-33, As Adopted by Senate, April 1, 2009
Senators Richardville, Sanborn, Stamas, Hunter, Clarke, Olshove and Cassis offered the following resolution:
Senate Resolution No. 33.
A resolution declaring April 2009 as Financial Literacy for Youth Month in the state of Michigan.
Whereas, The informed use of credit and other financial products and services benefits individual consumers and promotes economic growth; and
Whereas, Financial literacy encourages greater economic self-sufficiency, higher levels of homeownership, and enhances retirement security, particularly among low- and moderate-income citizens; and
Whereas, The past decade has seen declining personal savings rates, increased bankruptcy filings, and rising percentages of family income devoted to servicing household debt; and
Whereas, Only 26 percent of 18- to 21-year-olds reported that their parents actively taught them how to manage money; and
Whereas, A 2008 study by the Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy found that high school seniors have a limited understanding about credit cards, retirement funds, insurance, and other personal finance basics than seniors did five years ago; and
Whereas, Given the current economic conditions facing Michigan, personal financial education is crucial to ensure that our young people are prepared to manage credit and debt and become responsible workers, heads of households, investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and productive citizens; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate, That we hereby declare April 2009 as Financial Literacy for Youth Month in the state of Michigan, raising public awareness about the need for increased financial literacy in our schools and among our children and the serious problems that are associated with a lack of understanding about personal finances; and be it further
Resolved, That the Michigan Senate calls on each parent, school, business, community organization, and unit of government to observe the month with appropriate programs and activities.