MI HB6020

Establishes the Student Mental Health Apprenticeship Retention and Training (SMART) internship grant program administered by the Department of Education to provide grants to designated recipients pursuing school mental health professional credentials and to their supervisors.

Provides eligible designated recipients with either $25.00 per hour for up to 20 hours per week over 30 weeks (maximum $15,000) or a lump sum of $15,000.00 for the same period, with eligibility requiring internship in critical shortage disciplines or in schools with 50% or more students eligible for free or reduced-price meals.

Requires designated recipients to commit to working at a public school for not less than 3 school years as a condition of receiving grant funding under an agreement with the school and their graduate program.

Provides grants up to $250.00 per designated recipient to field supervisors, field instructors, and supervisors who oversee the interns.

Allows the Department of Education to make debt or expense repayment for student loans to designated recipients in cases of extenuating circumstances and requires reporting on program status and outcomes to legislature and advisory council.