Michigan House Bill HB5752

Michigan 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/30/24
• Refer: 5/30/24

Caption

Education: school districts; student mental health apprenticeship retention and training (SMART) internship grant program; modify. Amends sec. 3 of 2022 PA 180 (MCL 388.1953).

Impact

With the implementation of HB 5752, significant changes to funding distributions and eligibility criteria for participants are expected. The bill encourages the retention of mental health professionals within school settings, particularly focusing on designated recipients who are enrolled in graduate-level programs. This targeted support aims to address pressing needs for mental health services in educational environments by ensuring that interns have financial support while contributing to public schools, particularly those designated as having critical shortages or high rates of poverty among their student populations.

Summary

House Bill 5752 aims to amend the existing law regarding the Student Mental Health Apprenticeship Retention and Training (SMART) internship grant program. The bill's principal focus is to enhance the scope of this grant program aimed at supporting graduate-level mental health professionals through funded internship opportunities within public schools. One key provision allows designated recipients to receive either an hourly wage of $25 for their internship work, capped at 20 hours weekly, or a lump sum of $15,000 for completing the 30-week internship during a school year. This grant is intended to increase the attractiveness and accessibility of internship opportunities in the mental health sector while helping to fill crucial roles within the state's educational institutions.

Contention

Though the bill is aimed at improving mental health support in schools, it might also generate discussion regarding the stipulations around funding and its sufficiency to meet actual needs. There could be concerns about whether the financial support is adequate for the living costs of interns, which may impact recruitment efforts for such roles. Additionally, the requirement that selected interns commit to working in the public school system for a minimum of three years after completion of the grant obligations could be seen as both a protective measure to ensure good use of funds and a restrictive element that may deter potential candidates who desire more flexible career paths.