Senate Bill No. 2 focuses on the mental, physical, and emotional wellness of children. It includes provisions related to the licensure of social workers and the eligibility of principal public libraries to receive state grants. The bill requires the Department of Public Health to hire a full-time employee to assist in the licensure of social workers. It also repeals and replaces Section 11-24b of the general statutes, specifying the requirements for principal public libraries to be eligible for state grants and establishing the amount of the grants and criteria for distribution of funds.

The bill also includes amendments to existing laws regarding early intervention services for children, requiring the translation of individualized family service plans into Spanish for families whose primary language is Spanish. It establishes the Office of the Behavioral Health Advocate within the Insurance Department to assist mental and behavioral health care providers and coordinate with the Healthcare Advocate. The bill provides Medicaid reimbursement for suicide risk assessments and other mental health evaluations and services provided at school-based health centers or public schools. It also establishes a task force to study the comprehensive needs of children in the state and make recommendations to meet those needs. The bill includes provisions related to children's health and education, such as a grant program for training school behavioral health providers and requirements for play-based learning in schools. It establishes advisory committees and collaboratives to review and assess the performance of various offices and councils related to children's health and education. The bill also requires a study on community-based bereavement and grief counseling organizations and services for children and families.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 11-24a, 11-24b, 31-57r
KID Joint Favorable: 11-24a, 11-24b, 31-57r
File No. 77: 11-24a, 11-24b, 31-57r
APP Joint Favorable: 11-24a, 11-24b, 31-57r
Public Act No. 23-101: 11-24b, 31-57r, 20-195c, 10-222q