On June 13, 2023, Governor Whitmer signed into law 2023 PA 44, which amends Section 8 of the Michigan Payment of Wages and Fringe Benefits Act. These amendments codify what was previously a gray area in Michigan law regarding the legality of contracts between police recruits and law enforcement agencies where the recruit would agree to either: (1) remain employed with the agency for a period of time or (2) reimburse the agency for its costs incurred in sponsoring the recruit to attend a police academy. Given current recruitment challenges, law enforcement agencies have seen frequent instances of other agencies “poaching” their newly licensed police officers. Subject to certain limitations, the contracts permitted by the PA 44 amendments include a four-year sliding-scale reimbursement period from the date the recruit completes his or her police academy training. If the police recruit voluntarily leaves to take a job with another agency in an MCOLES-licensed position within that four-year period, the police recruit would then be responsible for reimbursing the agency for some or all of the cost of his or her police academy training. Law enforcement agencies that sponsor recruits to attend a police academy should consider utilizing these new contracts to protect the community’s investment.