Raised Bill No. 216, introduced in the February Session, 2024, is a legislative proposal that mandates the Department of Education to conduct a study on the feasibility of allowing local and regional boards of education to use an online software application in schools. This application is intended to support the mental health needs of students by providing them with access to mental health professionals while ensuring their anonymity. The bill requires the Department of Education to complete this study by January 1, 2025, and to submit the findings and any recommendations to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly that oversees matters related to children.

The bill specifies that the act will become effective on July 1, 2024, and introduces a new section to the statutes. The purpose of the bill is to explore the potential benefits of implementing an online mental health needs software application in educational settings to enhance the mental health support available to students. The bill does not include any deletions from current law but adds new legal language to initiate the study.