Assembly Bill 342 aims to create a grant program administered by the Department of Public Instruction to support school districts in hiring mental health professionals who are members of racial minority groups. The bill allocates $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 for this purpose. It defines a member of a racial minority group as individuals who identify as Black American, American Indian or Alaskan Native, Hispanic, Asian or Pacific Islander, or those with mixed racial ancestry.

The bill also grants the Department the authority to promulgate rules necessary for the implementation of the grant program. The new legal language includes the creation of sections 20.255 (2) (dv) and 115.369 in the statutes, which outline the grant program and its definitions. The act is set to take effect the day after publication or on the second day after the publication of the 2025 biennial budget act, whichever is later.