The proposed bill aims to enhance student mental health support by requiring the establishment of regional behavioral health crisis response teams by the Department of Health and the Department of Education, effective from the 2025-2026 school year. Each public school district and open-enrollment public charter school will be mandated to conduct behavioral threat assessments for students exhibiting potentially harmful behaviors. The Department of Human Services will lead the initiative, ensuring that these teams assist schools in evaluating behavioral threats, confirming threat levels, and identifying appropriate services for affected students. Additionally, the bill outlines the creation of behavioral health management plans tailored to individual student needs, which may include various treatment placements.

Furthermore, the bill amends existing laws regarding the education of students in juvenile detention facilities, clarifying responsibilities for educational services and funding. It specifies that juvenile detention facilities must collaborate with public school districts or charter schools to provide educational services and outlines the funding application process. The bill also includes provisions to ensure that educational costs for out-of-state placements are limited and establishes an emergency clause to expedite implementation, highlighting the urgent need for these measures to address ongoing mental health crises in schools.

Statutes affected:
Old version SB451 Original - 3-13-2025 09:30 AM: 6-18-202(a)
Old version SB451 V2 - 4-3-2025 03:13 PM: 6-18-202(a)
SB 451: 6-18-202(a)