NURSING: TRAINING ASSISTANCE

House Bill 4452

Sponsor: Rep. Joanne Voorhees

Committee: Senior Health, Security and Retirement

Complete to 3-27-01

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4452 AS INTRODUCED 3-13-01

The bill would amend the Public Health Code to establish a grant program, to be administered by the Department of Consumer and Industry Services, to encourage people to work in nursing homes providing nursing care. Under the bill, the department could award grants of up to $1,000 per year to:

· a person who is in training to become a registered professional nurse, a licensed practical nurse, or a nurse's aide; and

·a registered professional nurse, licensed practical nurse, or nurse's aide who is employed in a nursing home in Michigan.

Grant recipients would have to enter into a written contract with the department agreeing to work for at least one year in a nursing home upon completion of their training, or, if already employed, to remain employed for at least an additional year after receiving the grant. Grants could be used for education expenses, child care expenses, transportation expenses, or housing expenses if the housing were located within 25 miles of the training site or nursing home.

The bill would require a person who failed to fulfill the terms of the contract to repay the department an amount equal to twice the amount of the grant received, plus interest. Interest would be charged at a rate determined by the state treasurer to reflect the cumulative annual percentage change in the Detroit consumer price index. Repayment would have to be completed within three years. Money repaid would be deposited into a new Nursing Home Professional Employee Incentive Fund to be established under the bill. Money in the fund would be used to award grants.

The bill would specify the following grounds for forgiving a grant recipient the amount owed:

·fulfilling the requirement to work in a nursing home for the required one-year period;

·death of the grant recipient;

·permanent disability of the grant recipient;

·failure to satisfy the academic requirements of the training program after making a good faith effort;

·failure to satisfy the requirements for licensure, certification, or other authorization to practice in the profession; and,

·other circumstances considered by the department to be a compelling reason to consider the contract fulfilled.

MCL 333.21797

Analyst: D. Martens

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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.