33 This bill establishes a grant program within the Department of Education to provide
34 grants to school administrative units that contract for behavioral and mental health services
35 provided by licensed behavioral and mental health service providers. The bill limits the use
36 of funds provided through the grant program to behavioral and mental health services that
37 are not otherwise covered or reimbursable through the MaineCare program and provides
34 that funds must be used in a manner that does not supplant qualified and available school
35 administrative unit behavioral and mental health staff. The bill also provides that the
36 amounts of the grants must be based on a school administrative unit's need for clinicians
37 and in the amount of $20,000 per clinician prior to July 1, 2027 and $25,000 per clinician
38 beginning July 1, 2027. The bill provides funding for the grants for fiscal years 2025-26
39 and 2026-27.