Michigan fines, disciplines at least 132 people under 2020 implicit bias training

At least 132 licensed Michiganders have been fined or disciplined for not completing implicit bias training in 2024, according to a review of state records conducted by Michigan Capitol Confidential.

In 2020, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued nearly 200 executive orders, many in response to COVID.

Executive Directive 2020-07 mandated that people seeking one of 26 occupational licenses complete implicit bias training as part of the license renewal process. The rule, which became active June 1, 2022, requires chiropractors, optometrists, sanitarians and others to take implicit bias training.

In 2024 so far, the fines totaled $75,874 across doctors, pharmacy technicians, and other health care occupations.

In July, CapCon reported that an occupational speech therapist was fined and could lose a professional license for not completing the requirements. We dug into the documents and found more than 100 other people who were fined, had their license placed on probation, or were disciplined.

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs lists violations online. CapCon counted the number of people fined for not completing implicit bias training. The fines ranged from $125 to $2,500.

Other licensed professionals terminated or surrendered their licenses rather than take the implicit bias training or pay the associated fines.

Michigan licensed professionals who don’t take implicit bias training violate the Public Health Code.

The fees collected by LARA from individuals who do not complete continuing education credits are placed in the health professions regulatory fund, according to Abby Rubley, LARA director of communications.

LARA has budgeted one-time funding of $250,000 in fiscal year 2025 to support a research study assessing the impact of the implicit bias training requirement for Michigan health professionals, Rubley said.