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AB-918 Local educational agencies: mental health professionals.(2019-2020)



Current Version: 04/04/19 - Amended Assembly

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AB918:v97#DOCUMENT

Amended  IN  Assembly  April 04, 2019
Amended  IN  Assembly  March 19, 2019

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 918

Introduced by Assembly Member Smith

February 20, 2019

An act to add and repeal Section 49427.5 of the Education Code, relating to local educational agencies.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 918, as amended, Smith. Local educational agencies: mental health professionals.
Existing law requires the governing board of any school district to give diligent care to the health and physical development of pupils and authorizes the governing board of a school district to employ properly certified persons for the work. Existing law requires a school of a school district or county office of education and a charter school to notify pupils and parents or guardians of pupils no less than twice during the school year on how to initiate access to available pupil mental health services on campus or in the community.
This bill would require the State Department of Education, on or before November 1, 2020, in coordination with other relevant state and local agencies, to develop and submit recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor to develop a system through which qualified mental health professionals and other key school personnel employed by local educational agencies throughout the state could be rapidly deployed on a short- or long-term basis to an area of the state that has experienced a natural disaster or other traumatic event, in order to provide support to pupils and staff. The bill would require the department, in developing recommendations for this system of sharing mental health professionals, professionals and other key school personnel to consider, at a minimum, specified issues.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 49427.5 is added to the Education Code, to read:

49427.5.
 (a) The Legislature finds and declares both of the following:
(1) Following natural disasters and human-caused traumatic events, such as the destructive California wildfires of 2017 and 2018, there is a tremendous need for mental health professionals and other key school personnel to be available to support pupils and staff impacted by those events.
(2) Most school communities currently do not employ an adequate number of mental health professionals and other key school personnel necessary to support pupil and staff recovery from large-scale traumatic events.
(b) For purposes of this section, “local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.
(c) On or before November 1, 2020, the department, in coordination with other relevant state and local agencies, shall develop and submit recommendations to the Legislature, in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, and the Governor to develop a system through which qualified mental health professionals and other key school personnel employed by local educational agencies throughout the state could be rapidly deployed on a short- or long-term basis to an area of the state that has experienced a natural disaster or other traumatic event, in order to provide support to pupils and staff. In developing recommendations for this system of sharing mental health professionals, professionals and other key school personnel, the department shall consider, at a minimum, all of the following:
(1) The cost of creating and maintaining the system described in this subdivision.
(2) The criteria required for a local educational agency to request the use of mental health professionals and other key school personnel employed by another local educational agency.
(3) Potential reimbursement between local educational agencies.
(4) Reimbursement for travel expenses incurred by mental health professionals. professionals and other key school personnel.
(5) Similar or analogous programs established by other state or local agencies.
(6) Other relevant state and local agencies identified for possible consultation and collaboration.
(d) Pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code, this section is repealed on January 1, 2024.