This bill mandates that starting in the 2027-2028 school year, all candidates for teaching certification who have completed an educator preparation program approved by the Commissioner of Education must satisfactorily complete a course or training focused on youth mental health education. To facilitate this requirement, all approved educator preparation programs are required to review and update their curricula accordingly and submit these revisions to the Department of Education for approval. Additionally, the Department is tasked with developing an online module that covers various aspects of youth mental health education, including the dangers of mental health challenges, strategies for creating safe classroom environments, and considerations for cultural competence and diversity.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that candidates holding valid teaching certificates from other states or those with a certificate of eligibility must complete the online module within one year of the act's effective date. However, candidates who have completed a comparable mental health education course or training within the five years prior to the act's effective date may request an exemption from the required course or module. The act is set to take effect in the first full academic year following its enactment, with provisions for the Commissioner of Education to take necessary anticipatory actions before the effective date.