This bill aims to enhance the provision of school-based mental health services in Montana by requiring the Department of Public Health and Human Services to assist school districts in obtaining Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program reimbursements for behavioral health services. It establishes a framework for school-based and school-linked mental health services, aligning them with a multitiered system of supports. The bill also modifies the collaboration between the Department of Public Health and Human Services and the Office of Public Instruction, eliminates the School-Based Services State Special Revenue Account, and introduces new reporting requirements and rulemaking authority. Additionally, it includes an appropriation of $1 million from the state general fund for the implementation of these provisions.

Key insertions in the bill include the requirement for parental or guardian consent for school-based behavioral health services, the development of metrics to measure desired outcomes, and the establishment of a multitiered system of supports framework. The bill also mandates the inventory and evaluation of existing school-based behavioral health services, ensuring that interventions are evidence-based or evidence-informed. Furthermore, it repeals a previous section related to funding for school-based medical services and transfers any unencumbered funds from the School-Based Services Account to a new account managed by the Department of Public Health and Human Services. The effective date for the bill is set for July 1, 2023.

Statutes affected:
HB0822_1.pdf: 53-6-101
HB0822_2.pdf: 53-6-101
Amended: 53-6-101
Introduced: 53-6-101