2024 House Bill 5752

AI Analysis – Experimental

House Bill No. 5752 aims to modify the Student Mental Health Apprenticeship Retention and Training (SMART) internship grant program as established by the 2022 PA 180. The bill proposes enhancements to the grant program administered by the department to support eligible graduate-level mental health students and their supervisors. It outlines a framework for providing financial assistance to facilitate paid, educationally meaningful internships in public schools.

Key provisions of the bill include:

Eligible recipients can receive $25 per hour for up to 20 hours per week over a 30-week period or opt for a lump sum of $15,000. The bill specifies eligibility criteria for interns and supervisors, including supervision requirements. It details payment schedules and conditions under which payments may be stopped if eligibility criteria are not met, as well as provisions for pro rata payments for those who choose the lump sum but do not complete their internships. The department is allowed to make debt or expense repayments under certain circumstances. State universities can use existing evaluation processes to determine eligibility for grant funding. Recipients are required to submit evaluations to the department for assessment of continued eligibility. Supervisors may receive grants of up to $250 per intern. Recipients are allowed to reapply for grants if they meet the qualifications. This bill seeks to enhance the support for mental health professionals in training, ensuring they gain valuable experience in public school settings while also addressing the need for mental health services in these environments.