The bill establishes an Education Employee Assistance Program within the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, aimed at supporting public school districts in managing employees whose personal issues may negatively affect their job performance. The program will offer services such as assessment, referral, consultation, and problem resolution for school district employees and their families dealing with various personal problems, including mental health and substance abuse issues. Participation in this program is voluntary, and the Department is authorized to contract with eligible entities to fulfill the program's objectives.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the Board of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services create rules for the program's administration and establish evaluation methods to assess its effectiveness. It ensures that records related to employee participation in the program are kept confidential and separate from regular personnel files, with specific exceptions for cases where a participant poses a threat to themselves or others. The bill clarifies that participation in the program does not exempt employees from disciplinary actions by school districts, maintaining the districts' authority to enforce discipline as necessary. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and includes an emergency clause for immediate implementation upon passage.