as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 01/26/2023 11:55pm
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:
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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.
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(a) The leads must, upon request, 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.
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(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.
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(c) The leads must work with school districts and charter schools to improve mental
health infrastructure support by:
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(1) developing guidance and sharing resources on improving the quality of comprehensive
school mental health systems;
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(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;
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(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;
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(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;
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(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
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(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.
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(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.
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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.
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This section is effective July 1, 2023.
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The sums indicated in this section are
appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Education in the fiscal years
designated.
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(a) For the comprehensive
school mental health services lead under Minnesota Statutes, section 127A.21:
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$ new text end |
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....... new text end |
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..... new text end |
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2024 new text end |
|
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$ new text end |
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....... new text end |
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..... new text end |
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2025 new text end |
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(b) The base for fiscal year 2026 and thereafter is $.......
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