SF 2001

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 08/20/2021 10:08am

A bill for an act
relating to higher education; requiring campus mental health services, training,
and information; appropriating money; amending Minnesota Statutes 2020, section
136F.20, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2020, section 136F.20, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Mental health awareness program. new text end

new text begin The board shall implement a mental health
awareness program at each community and technical college by the start of the 2022-2023
academic year. A mental health awareness program shall include but not be limited to:
new text end

new text begin (1) links to existing online screening tools to identify symptoms and assist in connecting
students to mental health services, including immediate emergency resources;
new text end

new text begin (2) mandatory mental health first aid training, evidence-based suicide prevention training,
or other similar mental health training for all staff, faculty, and students working in student
housing and campus safety and efforts to make the training available to all faculty and staff;
new text end

new text begin (3) a website with information dedicated to campus, local, state, and national mental
health resources and services available to students, faculty, and staff;
new text end

new text begin (4) an annual student orientation session that includes information about maintaining
good mental health, the symptoms of mental health conditions, and available mental health
resources and services;
new text end

new text begin (5) information on the available mental health resources, online mental health screening
tools, and mental wellness information, which must be provided to students at least once
per term, and also during periods of high academic stress;
new text end

new text begin (6) the establishment of a peer support program to assist students with a mental health
condition. The program shall utilize student peers to support students living with mental
health conditions on campus. The peer support program may be housed within the counseling
center, wellness center, or resident assistance programs on campus, and the peer support
program leaders must be trained to facilitate discussions on mental health, identify students
who may be in crisis, and refer students to programs for mental health support; and
new text end

new text begin (7) requiring that all student identification cards include contact information for the
suicide prevention helpline and textline.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin (a) $250,000 in fiscal year 2022 and $250,000 in fiscal year 2023 are appropriated from
the general fund to the Board of Trustees of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
to provide grants to community and technical colleges to achieve the requirements of
Minnesota Statutes, section 136F.20. Colleges may also apply for the funding to contract
with an organization to provide mental health care services to students.
new text end

new text begin (b) The Board of Trustees shall convene a committee to review and approve grant
applications. A majority of the committee's membership must be students appointed by the
statewide student association representing community and technical college students.
new text end