HF 4363

as introduced - 93rd Legislature (2023 - 2024) Posted on 02/28/2024 04:34pm

A bill for an act
relating to education; requiring mental health instruction starting in the 2026-2027
school year; amending Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 120B.21.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2022, section 120B.21, is amended to read:

120B.21 MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION.

new text begin (a) new text end School districts and charter schools are encouraged to provide mental health instruction
for students in grades 4 through 12 aligned with local health standards and integrated into
existing programs, curriculum, or the general school environment of a district or charter
school. The commissioner, in consultation with the commissioner of human services,
commissioner of health, and mental health organizations, must, by July 1, 2020, and July
1 of each even-numbered year thereafter, provide districts and charter schools with resources
gathered by Minnesota mental health advocates, including:

(1) age-appropriate model learning activities for grades 4 through 12 that encompass
the mental health components of the National Health Education Standards and the
benchmarks developed by the department's quality teaching network in health and best
practices in mental health education; and

(2) a directory of resources for planning and implementing age-appropriate mental health
curriculum and instruction in grades 4 through 12 that includes resources on suicide and
self-harm prevention. A district or charter school providing instruction or presentations on
preventing suicide or self-harm must use either the resources provided by the commissioner
or other evidence-based instruction.

new text begin (b) Starting in the 2026-2027 school year, school districts and charter schools must
provide mental health instruction in accordance with paragraph (a).
new text end