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Michigan budget includes money for schools testing for lead

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Michigan's next state budget will help reimburse schools across the state for the cost of testing for lead in the wake of Flint's water crisis.

A legislative budget committee on Tuesday approved spending $4.5 million, with a cap of $950 per school building.

The water testing is voluntary, but many schools have tested for lead after the Flint disaster exposed problems with aging pipes and plumbing fixtures.

The House-Senate panel also voted to continue reimbursing members of the state Board of Education for travel and per-diem expenses.

House Republicans had moved to strip the money after being angered by the Democratic-led board's proposed guidance to schools on supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students - including letting them use the bathroom in accordance with their gender identity.

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