HF 1083

1st Engrossment - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/03/2022 06:34pm

A bill for an act
relating to education; establishing comprehensive school mental health services
lead positions; 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.21] COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
LEADS.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Lead position established. new text end

new text begin The department must employ two leads to
serve as a source of information and support for schools in addressing the mental health
needs of students, teachers, and school staff, and developing comprehensive school mental
health systems in school districts and charter schools. One lead must work on addressing
the mental health needs of students and the other lead must work on addressing the mental
health needs of teachers and other school staff.
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 leads must assist schools in assessing the quality
of their comprehensive school mental health systems and developing improvement plans
to implement evidence-based mental health resources, tools, and practices in school districts
and charter schools throughout Minnesota.
new text end

new text begin (b) The leads must establish a clearinghouse and provide information and resources for
school districts, charter schools, teachers, and families to support students', teachers', and
school staff's mental health needs.
new text end

new text begin (c) The leads must work with school districts and charter schools to improve mental
health infrastructure support by:
new text end

new text begin (1) developing guidance and sharing resources on improving the quality of comprehensive
school mental health systems;
new text end

new text begin (2) developing and sharing resources on evidence-based strategies, behavioral
interventions, and practices or techniques for addressing mental health needs, including
implementing a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention;
new text end

new text begin (3) facilitating coordination and cooperation to enable school districts and charter schools
to share strategies, challenges, and successes associated with supporting the mental health
needs of students, teachers, and staff;
new text end

new text begin (4) providing advice, upon request, to schools on implementing trauma-informed and
culturally responsive school-based programs that provide prevention or intervention services
to students, teachers, and staff;
new text end

new text begin (5) aligning resources among the different state agencies, including the Department of
Education, Department of Human Services, and Department of Health, to ensure school
mental health systems can efficiently access state resources; and
new text end

new text begin (6) maintaining a comprehensive list of resources on the Department of Education website
that schools may use to address students', teachers', and staff's mental health needs, including
grant opportunities; community-based prevention and intervention services; model policies;
written publications that schools may distribute to students, teachers, and staff; professional
development opportunities; best practices; and other resources for mental health education
under section 120B.21.
new text end

new text begin (d) The leads may report to the legislature as necessary regarding students', teachers',
and school staff's mental health needs, challenges in developing comprehensive school
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 school mental health
services lead 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 and charter schools support students', teachers', and
school staff's mental health needs.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2022.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION; COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES LEAD.
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 years
designated.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Comprehensive school mental health services leads. new text end

new text begin (a) For the comprehensive
school mental health services lead under Minnesota Statutes, section 127A.21:
new text end

new text begin $ new text end

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

new text begin ..... new text end

new text begin 2023 new text end

new text begin (b) The base for fiscal year 2024 and thereafter is $.......
new text end