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SB23-004

Employment Of School Mental Health Professionals

Concerning employment of certain school-based therapists.
Session:
2023 Regular Session
Subject:
Education & School Finance (Pre & K-12)
Bill Summary

Under current law, a mental health professional must be licensed by the department of education (department) in order to work in a school. The act authorizes a school or school district, the state charter school institute, a board of cooperative services that operates a school, or the division of youth services to employ school-based therapists who are not licensed by the department but hold a Colorado license for their profession to work in coordination with licensed special service providers to coordinate mental health supports for students. Before being employed, the school-based therapists must satisfy certain requirements for nonlicensed school employees, including a fingerprint-based criminal background check. Any school-based therapists may be supervised by a mentor special services provider or a licensed administrator. If an eligible school-based therapist provides services to a student related to the student's individualized education program, the eligible school-based therapist must have qualifications consistent with the student's individualized education program.

APPROVED by Governor May 4, 2023

EFFECTIVE May 4, 2023
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)

Status

Introduced
Passed
Became Law

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Bill Text

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