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HB23-1003

School Mental Health Assessment

Concerning the creation of the "Sixth Through Twelfth Grade Mental Health Screening Act", and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation.
Session:
2023 Regular Session
Subject:
Public Health
Bill Summary

The bill creates the sixth through twelfth grade mental health assessment screening program (program) administered by the department of public health and environment (department).

The bill allows any public school that serves any of grades 6 through 12 and meets certain requirements to participate in the program and requires a public school that wants to participate in the program to notify the department.

The bill requires participating schools to provide written notice to the parents of students within the first 2 weeks of the start of the school year in order to allow parents to opt their child out of participating in the mental health assessment screening.

The bill specifies that a student 12 years of age or older may consent to participate in the mental health assessment screening even if the student's parent opts out.

Mental health assessments screenings must be conducted in participating schools by a qualified provider screener. The bill requires the department to select a qualified provider screener to administer the mental health assessment screening and establishes requirements that the qualified provider screener must meet.

The bill requires a qualified provider screener to notify the student's parent under certain circumstances if the qualified provider screener finds that additional treatment is needed after reviewing the student's mental health assessment screening results.

The bill authorizes the department to promulgate rules as necessary to implement and administer the program.

A student who is home-schooled but who participates in extracurricular activities or athletic programs at a participating school is exempt from the mental health screening.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)


(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

Status

Introduced
Under Consideration

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