BP BHEAD INT H [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to school-based mental health services for children and youth; adding new sections to chapter 28A.300 RCW; creating a new section; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that nine to fifteen percent of children attending school have emotional disturbances serious enough to impede their functioning in school, family, and community activities. The mental health challenges of these young students often inhibit their abilities to take full advantage of the educational opportunities offered to them and can result in disruptions in the learning environment, behavior problems, and, if untreated, more serious delinquent behaviors that pose costly implications for schools and communities. The legislature finds that these children would benefit greatly from early intervention by community mental health specialists trained to help when behavior problems begin in order to prevent more serious problems from developing. Studies show that assistance from community mental health specialists through a school-based screening, service, and referral program is an important component of effective early intervention for children at risk in schools. The legislature intends to provide an opportunity for each second class school district to contract with community mental health specialists to perform school-based mental health services and referral activities on a weekly basis in each local school as needed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The school-based mental health services program is established. The purpose of the program is to provide second class school districts and local schools with funding to contract with community mental health specialists to help children and youth in elementary school through high school who are at risk of emotional disturbances and behavioral problems.

(2) The program shall be administered by the office of the superintendent of public instruction. In its administration of the program, the responsibilities of the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall include, but need not be limited to:

(a) Adoption and distribution of rules and program guidelines;

(b) Use of simple, brief, and clear application processes, forms, and reporting requirements that help make the program accessible to second class school districts with minimal administrative burden;

(d) Distribution of a report by November 15th of each even-numbered year to the governor, the education and fiscal committees of the legislature, the educational community, the community mental health system, and other interested parties. The report shall focus primarily on the results of the program as a whole, and shall include recommendations for program improvements, including recommendations for the continuing annual program funding level. The reports shall include information on the number of local schools participating in the mental health services program, the nature and amount of mental health services provided through the program, the number of children served, and the overall results of the program for children.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 28A.300 RCW to read as follows:

Any second class school district may participate in the program in section 2 of this act subject to the following requirements:

(1) Funds shall be used to contract for community mental health specialists to work exclusively with public school children and youth; and

(2) Funds shall supplement and not supplant funding provided by the district to support mental health services during a base year determined by the superintendent of public instruction.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The sum of one million eight hundred thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2001, from the general fund to the office of the superintendent of public instruction for the purposes of this act.