(1) From the general fund money appropriated under section 11, there is allocated $1,000,000.00 for 2024-2025 only to the SME Education Foundation's Partnership Response Initiative. The SME Education Foundation's Partnership Response Initiative shall use the funding it receives under this section to provide high schools in this state with cost-effective and tailored engineering and manufacturing programs that provide equipment, curricula, professional development, scholarships, and STEM-focused curricular activities to students enrolled in, and teachers teaching in, the high schools of this state. The department may use $200,000.00 of the funds under this section for administration.

    (2) Notwithstanding section 17b, the department shall make payments under this section on a schedule determined by the department.