MIOSHA SAFETY TRAINING MEETS

HEALTH GRADUATION REQUIREMENT

House Bill 4317 (as reported from committee as H-2)

Sponsor:  Rep. Roger Hauck

Committee:  Workforce and Talent Development

Complete to 3-28-17

BRIEF SUMMARY: House Bill 4317 would amend the Revised School Code (MCL 380.1278a) to allow a student to fulfill the health education graduation requirement by completing at least 30 hours of qualifying training provided by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

FISCAL IMPACT:    The bill would have no fiscal impact for the state or for school districts, public school academies (PSAs), or intermediate school districts (ISDs).

THE CONTENT OF THE BILL:

House Bill 4317 would allow 30 hours of safety training by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to fulfill the health education graduation requirement. 

Currently, as part of the Michigan merit graduation requirements (described in greater detail in BACKGROUND, below), a student must complete at least one credit in subject matter that includes both health and physical education, or at least ½ credit in health and ½ credit awarded by the school district or public school academy (PSA) for approved participation in extracurricular athletics or other extracurricular activities involving physical activity. 

The bill would allow a student enrolled in a Michigan Department of Education (MDE)-approved[1] career and technical education (CTE) program to fulfill the health education requirement (accounting for half of the health and physical education graduation requirement, or ½ credit) by completing a 30 hour educational training course designed by OSHA relating to occupational health and safety standards applicable to general industry or construction.

As noted below, a student may already utilize an MDE-approved CTE program to fulfill the Algebra II component of the math graduation requirements, the third science credit, and, for students graduating in 2016-2021, up to one credit of the world languages requirement. 

The bill would take effect 90 days after enactment. 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

            Occupational Safety and Health Training

According to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, the Michigan Occupational Health and Safety Administration (MIOSHA) does not currently administer the OSHA 30-hour training.  At a federal level, OSHA's Outreach Training Program[2] offers 30-hour general industry or construction classes, whose fee is determined by the authorized trainer who develops the course. 

            Michigan Merit Curriculum

Michigan high school students must complete the Merit Standard Curriculum, or an alternative Personal Curriculum (developed by faculty with the student, parents, and the school superintendent) in order to earn a high school diploma.  The Merit Curriculum entails the following course of study:

·         4 credits in English language arts.

·         3 credits in science, including at least biology and either chemistry, physics, anatomy, or agricultural science, or a program providing the same content (with a fourth science credit strongly encouraged). A student may fulfill the requirement for the third science credit by completing an MDE-approved computer science program or curriculum or formal career and technical education program or curriculum.

·         4 credits in mathematics, including at least algebra I, geometry, and algebra II, (or an integrated 3-credit sequence of this content) plus an additional math credit in trigonometry, statistics, pre-calculus, calculus, applied math, accounting, business math, a retake of algebra II, or a course in financial literacy.  A student may also fulfill the algebra II requirements by completing a MDE-approved formal career and technical education program or curriculum that has appropriately embedded mathematics content as described in the law.  In addition, a student can complete algebra II over a 2-year period; and each student must take a math course during the final year of high school enrollment.

·         3 credits in social science, including at least 1 credit in United States history and geography, 1 credit in world history and geography, one-half credit in economics, and a civics course.

·         1 credit in health and physical education.

·         1 credit in visual, performing, or applied arts.

·         2 credits that are grade-appropriate in a language other than English between kindergarten and 12th grade, beginning with the class of 2016. For students graduating high school in 2016 to 2021 only, one credit of that requirement may be met in whole or in part by completing an MDE-approved formal career and technical education program or curriculum, or by completing visual or performing arts instruction that is in addition to the one credit of visual arts, performing arts, or applied arts that is also required to receive a high school diploma.

ARGUMENTS:

For:

Some argue that a course in safety for general industry or construction would offer more practical skills for students already participating in CTE courses.  Certification by OSHA makes these students more marketable to employers after graduation and augments their knowledge base in their chosen career.

They also applauded the flexibility this proposal would provide students.  With 18 credits specifically dictated by the Michigan Merit Curriculum, any opportunity to allow students to gain life skills while fulfilling graduation requirements should be entertained as an option, they argued.

Against:

Others stated that, above all, we are preparing students for life, not just for college or careers.  A high school health course covers important subject matter such as: human sexuality, sexually transmitted infections, social and emotional health, drug abuse (especially relevant given Michigan's ongoing opioid epidemic), and nutrition and fitness.  Many of these topics are taught only in the health course, and could leave the student without valuable knowledge and unprepared for life's challenges.  After all, a student can participate in an OSHA training after graduation, especially if it is necessary for a career; a high school health course may be the only time to master these vital subjects. 

Additionally, certain subjects are incorporated into the health curriculum with the understanding that, because the course is required for graduation, all students would study those topics before graduating.  For example, Public Act 388 of 2016 incorporated instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) into the health curriculum; proponents of that bill stated that 100,000 Michigan high school students would learn the lifesaving measure each year.  By making the health course optional, it would effectively remove CPR training as a graduation requirement.

POSITIONS:

Representative of the following organizations testified in support of the bill:

·         MAG Insulation (3-21-17)

·         Van Buren ISD (3-21-17)

·         Creative Many Michigan (3-21-17)

·         ABC of Michigan (3-21-17)

·         Michigan Manufacturers Association (3-21-17)

·         Michigan Apprenticeship Steering Committee (3-28-17)

·         Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (3-28-17)

·         Owosso Public Schools (3-28-17)

The following organizations support the bill:

·         Wayne RESA (3-21-17)

·         Home Builders Association of Michigan (3-21-17)

Representatives of the following organizations testified in opposition to the bill: 

·         American Heart Association. (3-28-17)

·         Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals (3-28-17)

·         Michigan Council of Teachers of Mathematics (3-28-17)

The following organizations oppose the bill:

·         Oakland Schools (3-21-17)

·         Education Trust Midwest (3-28-17)

·         Michigan Council for Maternal and Child Health (3-28-17)

·         Healthy Kids, Healthy Michigan (3-28-17)

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   Jenny McInerney

                                                                                               Fiscal Analysts:   Bethany Wicksall

                                                                                                                           Samuel Christensen

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

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