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SENATE BILL NO. 197
IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION
BY SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON
Introduced: 2/19/20
Referred: Education, Finance
A BILL
FOR AN ACT ENTITLED
1 "An Act relating to mental health education."
2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:
3 * Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section
4 to read:
5 LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the legislature that the Board of Education
6 and Early Development develop guidelines for instruction in mental health in consultation
7 with representatives of mental health organizations, including the National Council for
8 Behavioral Health, Providence Health and Services Alaska, the Southcentral Foundation,
9 Anchorage Community Mental Health Services, Inc., the North Star Behavioral Health
10 System, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness Alaska.
11 * Sec. 2. AS 14.30.360(a) is amended to read:
12 (a) Each district in the state public school system shall be encouraged to
13 initiate and conduct a program in health education for kindergarten through grade 12.
14 The program should include instruction in [PHYSICAL] health and personal safety,
15 including alcohol and drug abuse education, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR),
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1 early cancer prevention and detection, dental health, family health including infant
2 care, environmental health, mental health, the identification and prevention of child
3 abuse, child abduction, neglect, sexual abuse, and domestic violence, and appropriate
4 use of health services.
5 * Sec. 3. AS 14.30.360(b) is amended to read:
6 (b) The state board shall establish guidelines for a health and personal safety
7 education program. Health guidelines must provide standards for instruction in
8 mental health and shall be developed in consultation with the Department of
9 Health and Social Services and representatives of national and state mental
10 health organizations. Personal safety guidelines shall be developed in consultation
11 with the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Upon request, the
12 Department of Education and Early Development, the Department of Health and
13 Social Services, and the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault shall
14 provide technical assistance to school districts in the development of personal safety
15 curricula. A school health education specialist position shall be established and funded
16 in the department to coordinate the program statewide. Adequate funds to enable
17 curriculum and resource development, adequate consultation to school districts, and a
18 program of teacher training in health and personal safety education shall be provided.
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Statutes affected:
SB0197A, AM SB 197, introduced 02/19/2020: 14.30.360