Bill Text: CA AB1120 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Pupil health: mental health screenings.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2024-02-01 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB1120 Detail]
Download: California-2023-AB1120-Amended.html
|
Amended
IN
Assembly
March 08, 2023 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1120
| Introduced by Assembly Member Gabriel |
February 15, 2023 |
An act to add Article 3 (commencing with Section 49440) to Chapter 9 of Part 27 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, relating to pupil health.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1120, as amended, Gabriel.
Pupil health: mental health screenings.
Existing law requires the governing board of a school district to give diligent care to the health and physical development of pupils and authorizes the governing board of a school district to employ properly certified persons for this purpose. Existing law requires a school of a school district or county office of education and a charter school to notify pupils and parents or guardians of pupils no less than twice during the school year on how to initiate access to available pupil mental health services on campus or in the community, or both, as provided.
This bill would authorize require a school district, county office of education,
state special school, or charter school to provide for the that serves pupils in grades 6 to 12, inclusive, to, in consultation with school and community stakeholders, school-employed mental health professionals, and behavioral health experts, and before an unspecified school year, adopt a policy on universal mental health screening of pupils for youth behavioral disorders, as defined, in an unspecified grade,
grades 6 to 12, inclusive, as provided. To the extent the bill would impose additional duties on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee:Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Article 3 (commencing with Section 49440) is added to Chapter 9 of Part 27 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Education Code, to read:Article 3. Universal Pupil Mental Health Screenings
49440.
(a) A local educational agency that serves pupils in grades 6 to 12, inclusive, shall, before the beginning of the ____ school year, adopt a policy on universal mental health screening for youth behavioral disorders in pupils in grades 6 to 12, inclusive.(b) The adopted policy pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be developed in consultation with school and community stakeholders, school-employed mental health professionals, and behavioral health experts and shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(1) Information relating to the frequency of mental health screenings that will be administered to pupils throughout the school year.
(2) The manner in which parents or guardians of pupils will be notified and given the option to object to the mental health screenings.
(3) Information on which evidence-based screening tools developed by reputable entities such as the American Academy of Pediatrics or the National Alliance on Mental Illness may be used for the mental health screenings.
(4) Who will be authorized to administer the mental health screenings such as mental health professionals, community-based organizations, or health care providers that specialize in pediatric and adolescent mental health and have sufficient credentials to conduct youth mental health screenings.
(5) The means by which pupils suspected of suffering from a youth behavioral health disorder after being screened
may be referred to available pupil mental health services on campus or in the community, or both.
(c) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Evidence-based” means peer-reviewed, scientific research evidence, including studies based on research methodologies that control threats to both the internal and the external validity of the research findings.
(2) “Local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, state special school, or charter school that serves pupils in any of grades 6 to 12, inclusive.
(3) “Youth behavioral health disorders” means pupil mental health and substance use disorders.
SEC. 2.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.(a)A
local educational agency may provide for the mental health screening of grade ____ pupils.
(b)A local educational agency may use screening tools that have been developed by reputable entities, including, but not limited to, the American Academy of Pediatrics or the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
(c)Pupils suspected of suffering from mental illness after being screened pursuant to subdivision (b) may be referred to available pupil mental health services on campus or in the community, or both.
(d)For purposes of this article, “local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.
