103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
HB3361

 

Introduced 2/17/2023, by Rep. Ryan Spain

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
105 ILCS 5/2-3.196 new

    Amends the School Code. Requires the State Board of Education to establish a School-Based Mental Health Services Grant Program to award grants to schools for the purpose of providing supplemental mental health services to students, in addition to services provided by the employees of a school. Sets forth provisions concerning Program requirements, grant applications, awards, requirements, funding, and reporting. Provides for guidelines and rulemaking. Effective immediately.


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A BILL FOR

 

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1    AN ACT concerning education.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section
52-3.196 as follows:
 
6    (105 ILCS 5/2-3.196 new)
7    Sec. 2-3.196. School-Based Mental Health Services Grant
8Program.
9    (a) In this Section:
10    "Chief school administrator" means the superintendent of a
11school district, the chief administrative officer of a
12nonpublic school, the executive director of a cooperative or
13joint agreement.
14    "Mental health services" means the provision of assistance
15or preparation of a plan of assistance to students who are
16experiencing anxiety, stress, trauma, or other mental or
17emotional impairments interfering with their education and
18behavior at school, with the goal of helping students engage
19in their school community in a productive and positive manner
20that maximizes their social and emotional development and
21learning.
22    "Mental health services entity" means a county, community
23organization, or agency that is licensed under State law to

 

 

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1provide mental health services for students.
2    "Mental health specialist" means an individual who is a
3volunteer or employee of a mental health services entity and
4holds a valid and current State license as a psychologist,
5counselor, social worker, or clinical social worker.
6    "Program" means the School-Based Mental Health Services
7Grant Program.
8    "Supplemental mental health services" means mental health
9services provided by a mental health specialist and in
10addition to the mental health services being provided by a
11school's employees.
12    (b) The State Board of Education shall establish the
13Program to award grants to schools for the purpose of
14providing supplemental mental health services to students, in
15addition to services provided by the employees of a school.
16The Program shall support the use of community resources and
17organizations so that students of a school can have their
18mental health needs met within the school.
19    (c) Within 90 days after the effective date of this
20amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, the State Board
21shall develop a process for awarding grants, including an
22application form and a review process. The application form
23shall include, at a minimum, the following:
24        (1) a description of the way a school intends to use
25    the grant award to provide supplemental mental health
26    services to students in a school setting;

 

 

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1        (2) a description of how mental health specialists
2    will consult with school staff, including
3    multidisciplinary teams, the services that mental health
4    specialists will provide, and how the mental health
5    specialists will work under the supervision of an employee
6    of a school who is identified by the chief school
7    administrator as the coordinator of supplemental mental
8    health services within the school;
9        (3) the amount of grant money requested; and
10        (4) any additional information the State Board
11    determines is necessary.
12    (d) The State Board shall award grants under the Program
13each fiscal year, subject to appropriation. A school may
14receive a grant award in multiple fiscal years.
15    (e) The State Board shall make no more than 35 grant awards
16each fiscal year under the Program. The State Board shall
17ensure that grant awards are geographically dispersed across
18the State. Subject to appropriation, grant awards under the
19Program shall be disbursed no later than December 1, 2023 for
20Fiscal Year 2024, and no later than December 1 in each
21subsequent fiscal year.
22    (f) In order to receive a grant award under the Program, a
23school must agree to use the grant money to supplement and not
24supplant existing school spending on student mental health
25services, and, for any fiscal year in which the school
26receives a grant, the school may not reduce, curtail, or

 

 

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1eliminate any program or service related to student mental
2health that existed at the time of application for a grant.
3    (g) The State Board shall fund grant awards with
4appropriations for the Program or with grants or other funding
5from the federal government, private foundations, or other
6sources.
7    (h) A school that receives a grant award under the Program
8shall do the following:
9        (1) post the approved application on the school's
10    Internet website if it maintains one; and
11        (2) enter into one or more memoranda of understanding
12    with the mental health services entity with which the
13    mental health specialist is affiliated or employed. A
14    memorandum of understanding shall include the following:
15            (A) the name of the school in which the
16        supplemental mental health services will be provided;
17            (B) the cost and length of the agreement;
18            (C) a description of the following:
19                (i) the manner in which mental health
20            specialists will work in consultation and
21            coordination with existing school counselors,
22            school social workers, and school psychologists
23            who are employed by the school;
24                (ii) how the mental health specialist will
25            work under the supervision of an employee
26            designated by the chief school administrator; and

 

 

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1                (iii) the services that the mental health
2            specialist will provide;
3            (D) the name of the mental health specialist who
4        will be assigned to the school and the qualifications
5        of the mental health specialist;
6            (E) the name of the point of contact within the
7        mental health services entity with which the mental
8        health specialist is affiliated and a process by which
9        the point of contact shall cooperate with the school
10        to resolve concerns regarding services provided by the
11        mental health specialist; and
12            (F) a description of quality standards that the
13        mental health services entity will meet with respect
14        to continuity of mental health specialists assigned to
15        a school to provide supplemental mental health
16        services to individual students.
17    (i) A school shall ensure that supplemental mental health
18services funded with a grant under the Program are consistent
19with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of
201974 and the Illinois School Student Records Act.
21    (j) After entering into a memorandum of understanding
22under subsection (h), a school shall notify the parents or
23legal guardians of all students enrolled in the school that
24the school has entered into a memorandum of understanding with
25a mental health services entity under this Section. The
26notification shall include:

 

 

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1        (1) a link to the approved grant application and a
2    description of the Program; and
3        (2) a statement that, if a student is identified by
4    the school as needing supplemental mental health services,
5    the parent or legal guardian of the student will be
6    notified and the parent or legal guardian has the option,
7    after consultation with the school, to exempt the student
8    from receiving supplemental mental health services by
9    signing and submitting an opt-out form to the school.
10    The opt-out form under paragraph (2) of this subsection
11(j) shall be developed by the State Board and provided to all
12schools. The opt-out form shall be posted on the Internet
13website of each school for use by parents and legal guardians
14of students.
15    (k) Within one year after receiving a grant under the
16Program, a school shall file a report with the State Board
17describing how the grant award has enabled the school to
18provide school-based supplemental mental health services to
19students of the school. The report shall be on a form developed
20by the State Board.
21    (l) By April 30 of each year, the State Board shall compile
22the reports received under subsection (k) for the immediately
23preceding year and file the compiled report, along with any
24recommendations for improvements to the Program, with the
25Governor and the General Assembly.
26    (m) Nothing in this Section shall be construed to

 

 

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1supersede any provision of a collective bargaining agreement
2negotiated between an educational employer and the exclusive
3representative of the school's employees.
4    (n) Within 90 days after the effective date of this
5amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, the State Board,
6in conjunction with the Department of Human Services, shall
7develop guidelines to implement this Section. Upon development
8of the guidelines, the State Board shall post the guidelines
9on the State Board's Internet website.
10    (o) The State Board, in conjunction with the Department of
11Human Services, shall have the power to adopt rules to
12implement this Section.
 
13    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
14becoming law.