Raised Bill No. 5323 seeks to improve the identification and treatment of disordered eating behaviors among high school students in Connecticut by mandating the implementation of an evidence-based screening tool in all school-based health centers for students in grades nine to twelve, effective July 1, 2026. This screening will be voluntary for students and their parents/guardians. Additionally, the bill establishes a task force to develop recommendations for early identification and treatment of disordered eating behaviors, alongside a Holistic Food Education Working Group that will create a state-wide food education roadmap and model school nutrition curriculum. Both groups are required to submit their findings by January 1, 2028.

The bill also addresses financial operations for dissolved educational boards, requiring audits for specific boards and outlining the payment of outstanding expenses by member towns' chief executive officers. It modifies the employment criteria for security personnel in public schools, restricting hiring to sworn local police officers or qualified retired officers, and expands the definition of "retired officer." Furthermore, it introduces a pilot mentorship program for new school administrators, mandates academic standards for extracurricular participation, and establishes a grant program for therapeutic arts in public schools, particularly in districts facing high exclusionary discipline rates. The bill includes various insertions and deletions to update existing statutes and clarify these provisions.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 10-244a