Bill Summary:

School Safety Committee. The bill requires the department of education (department) to offer a train the trainer program (program) designed to improve school culture, promote youth behavioral and mental health, and prepare attendees to teach a youth behavioral and mental health training course. The department must make the program available to employees of a school district, charter school, or board of cooperative services (local education provider). A local education provider and its employees are not required to participate in the program. The department may enter into an agreement with an organization to provide the program. The department is required to annually evaluate the effectiveness of the program. The general assembly is required to annually appropriate up to $1 million for the program. The program is repealed June 30, 2024. The program must include evidence-based instruction on, and prepare an attendee to teach a youth behavioral and mental health training course that includes, any of the following subjects: Using trauma-informed approaches to improve overall school climate and culture; Identifying behavioral and mental health challenges and substance use disorders; Restorative practices for addressing youth behavioral and mental health challenges; Improving youth social and emotional health; Bullying prevention and intervention strategies; Encouraging positive bystander behavior; Best practices for providing assistance in noncrisis situations; De-escalation of crisis situations; or Identifying and accessing available behavioral and mental health resources and substance use disorder support services and treatment.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

CEA Position Rationale: CEA supports increasing mental health resources for schools and districts, creating space for that to be implemented locally to best meet the specific needs. Additionally, this is an optional pathway and is designed to enhance supports and not create unfunded mandates.

Legislative Priorities: Mental Health and Socio-Emotional Health, Attract and Retain High Quality Educators and Improve Educator Workload

Tier: 2