The bill H.323 seeks to improve mental health support for youth in Vermont by creating the Mental Health Innovation Special Fund, which will finance several initiatives, including a mental health screening program in schools, a behavioral health innovation grant program, and a peer-to-peer mental health support program. This fund will be established under 18 V.S.A. § 7116 and will be funded through revenues from the Department of Taxes and other contributions. The bill also introduces a mental health and substance misuse literacy curriculum for schools, developed by the Agency of Education in collaboration with the Departments of Health and Mental Health, and mandates the establishment of a mental health screening program under 16 V.S.A. § 1433.

Additionally, the bill outlines a framework for peer-to-peer mental health services in schools, requiring oversight by certified peer support providers and school-based mental health service providers. The Agency of Education will accept grant applications for these programs starting August 1, 2026, with a focus on schools that include suicide prevention components or are in high-risk areas. The bill also mandates training for certified peer support specialists and school employees, and it requires a report by January 1, 2030, to evaluate the program's effectiveness. Appropriations of $10,000 are allocated for both the behavioral health innovation grant program and the mental health screening program for fiscal year 2026, with additional funding from the special fund for fiscal year 2027. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.