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 threat data, confirming threat levels, and identifying appropriate services for affected students. Additionally, the bill outlines the creation of behavioral health management plans tailored to individual students' needs, which may include various treatment placements.

Furthermore, the bill amends existing laws regarding the education of students in juvenile detention facilities, clarifying the responsibilities of these facilities and the associated school districts in providing educational services. It emphasizes the need for collaboration between juvenile detention facilities and educational providers to ensure that students receive necessary educational support. The bill also includes provisions to ensure that funding for educational services is appropriately allocated and that students are not denied access to care based on financial constraints. An emergency clause is included, indicating the urgent need for these measures to address ongoing mental health crises in schools and ensure public safety.

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