HF 3219

1st Engrossment - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/16/2020 11:42am

A bill for an act
relating to education; establishing a comprehensive mental health services director
position; appropriating money; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 127A.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [127A.20] COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
DIRECTOR.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Director position established. new text end

new text begin The department must appoint a director
to serve as a source of information and support for schools in addressing students' mental
health needs and developing best practices for comprehensive mental health needs.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Assistance to districts. new text end

new text begin (a) The director must assess mental health needs through
school site visits and determine how to develop and disseminate evidence-based resources,
tools, and practices to school districts throughout Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (b) The comprehensive mental health services director must work with school districts
to improve mental health infrastructure support by:
new text end

new text begin (1) developing guidance and resources on strategies, behavioral interventions, and
practices or techniques for addressing students' mental health needs, including implementing
a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention;
new text end

new text begin (2) maintaining a list of local, state, and national mental health resources for school
districts, including public and private funding opportunities, community-based prevention
and intervention services, model policies, training for teachers and other district staff, and
other resources for mental health education under section 120B.21;
new text end

new text begin (3) providing advice, upon request, to school districts on implementing trauma-informed
and culturally responsive school-based programs that provide prevention or intervention
services to students;
new text end

new text begin (4) posting resources on the Department of Education website that school districts may
use to address students' mental health needs; and
new text end

new text begin (5) maintaining a comprehensive list of school district best practices to address students'
mental health needs.
new text end

new text begin (c) The director may report to the legislature as necessary regarding students' mental
health needs, challenges in developing comprehensive mental health services, successful
strategies and outcomes, and recommendations for integrating mental health services and
supports in schools.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Coordination with other agencies. new text end

new text begin The comprehensive mental health services
director must consult with the Regional Centers of Excellence, the Department of Health,
the Department of Human Services, the Minnesota School Safety Center, and other federal,
state, and local agencies as necessary to identify or develop information, training, and
resources to help school districts support students' mental health needs.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2020.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
DIRECTOR.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Department of Education. new text end

new text begin The sums indicated in this section are
appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education in the fiscal year
designated.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Comprehensive mental health services director. new text end

new text begin (a) For the comprehensive
mental health services director under Minnesota Statutes, section 127A.20:
new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin ....... new text end

new text begin ..... new text end

new text begin 2021 new text end

new text begin (b) The base for fiscal year 2022 and thereafter is $........
new text end