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

Rule breakers fined a collective $75,000 in 2024

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.

Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.

News Story

State earmarks give Flint nonprofit $2 million over two years

100k Ideas gives marketing ideas to new businesses

The state of Michigan has approved a grant to a Flint nonprofit for the second time in two years. The organization, 100k Ideas, received $500,000 from taxpayers in the 2024 budget and will receive $1.5 million from the 2025 budget.

The nonprofit gives marketing and other advice to microbusinesses and entrepreneurs, according to its website. Some clients pay a $200 fee for some services, though fee waivers are available.

Michigan Capitol Confidential reported on the organization’s $500,000 state grant in 2023. At the time, CapCon found that the organization charged a $40 per hour consulting fee or a $100 monthly fee.

The organization received its tax-exempt status in 2017. It had a total of $635,799 in expenses for salaries, wages and benefits, according to a Form 990 it filed for 2023 with the IRS. It received $772,161 in grants and contributions in the same year.

The organization aims to help early-stage businesses develop a strong foundation, the group said in an email to CapCon.

“We know without a business bank account or having their business properly registered, the ability to grow will be stifled,” it said. “However, we also know asking for help in these areas is often intimidating. We built a space where the intimidation factor is removed, because our early-staged businesses are already comfortable working with us. Our location is used as the first point of contact to financial institutions, CPAs, legal support, and small business support providers.”

CapCon periodically reports on taxpayer-funded grants included in the annual state budget. The stories are meant to highlight the lack of transparency in its budgeting process, not evaluate the merits of each recipient.

Legislators handpick organizations in their districts and request the money be included as part of the state budget. The grants do not go through an appropriations process to ensure they are a good use of taxpayer dollars.

There is no open process for securing the grants; an organization must gain the ear of a legislator, whose identity is not revealed in the budget.

If, however, the sponsoring legislator does not come forward after one year, the organization could lose the money.

Michigan Capitol Confidential is the news source produced by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Michigan Capitol Confidential reports with a free-market news perspective.