1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to education; establishing a comprehensive mental health services director 
1.3 	position; appropriating money;proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, 
1.4 	chapter 127A.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. [127A.20] COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 
1.7 	DIRECTOR.
1.8 		Subdivision 1.Director position established. The department must appoint a director 
1.9 	to serve as a source of information and support for schools in addressing students' mental 
1.10 	health needs and developing best practices for comprehensive mental health needs.
1.11 		Subd. 2.Assistance to districts. (a) The director must assess mental health needs through 
1.12 	school site visits and determine how to develop and disseminate evidence-based resources, 
1.13 	tools, and practices to school districts throughout Minnesota.
1.14 	(b) The comprehensive mental health services director must work with school districts 
1.15 	to improve mental health infrastructure support by:
1.16 	(1) developing guidance and resources on strategies, behavioral interventions, and 
1.17 	practices or techniques for addressing students' mental health needs, including implementing 
1.18 	a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention;
1.19 	(2) maintaining a list of local, state, and national mental health resources for school 
1.20 	districts, including public and private funding opportunities, community-based prevention 
1.21 	and intervention services, model policies, training for teachers and other district staff, and 
1.22 	other resources for mental health education under section 120B.21;
2.1 	(3) providing advice, upon request, to school districts on implementing trauma-informed 
2.2 	and culturally responsive school-based programs that provide prevention or intervention 
2.3 	services to students;
2.4 	(4) posting resources on the Department of Education website that school districts may 
2.5 	use to address students' mental health needs; and
2.6 	(5) maintaining a comprehensive list of school district best practices to address students' 
2.7 	mental health needs.
2.8 	(c) The director may report to the legislature as necessary regarding students' mental 
2.9 	health needs, challenges in developing comprehensive mental health services, successful 
2.10 	strategies and outcomes, and recommendations for integrating mental health services and 
2.11 	supports in schools.
2.12 		Subd. 3.Coordination with other agencies. The comprehensive mental health services 
2.13 	director must consult with the Regional Centers of Excellence, the Department of Health, 
2.14 	the Department of Human Services, the Minnesota School Safety Center, and other federal, 
2.15 	state, and local agencies as necessary to identify or develop information, training, and 
2.16 	resources to help school districts support students' mental health needs.

2.17 	EFFECTIVE DATE. This section is effective July 1, 2020.

2.18 	Sec. 2. APPROPRIATION; COMPREHENSIVE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES 
2.19 	DIRECTOR.
 2.20 		Subdivision 1.Department of Education. The sums indicated in this section are 
2.21 	appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education in the fiscal year 
2.22 	designated.
2.23 		Subd. 2.Comprehensive mental health services director. (a) For the comprehensive 
2.24 	mental health services director under Minnesota Statutes, section 127A.20:

2.25		$
	.......
	.....
	2021
	
2.26 	(b) The base for fiscal year 2022 and thereafter is $........