State Board of Education; adopt rules to require all certified public school personnel to receive annual training in depression and suicide awareness and prevention
Impact
The bill establishes a Student Mental Health Screenings Grant Program, which provides funding to local school systems for implementing mental health screening programs. This program is essential for identifying students at risk for depression and suicide, addressing the high prevalence of such issues among adolescents. With statistics indicating that depression and suicide are substantial concerns for teens, this proactive measure is expected to facilitate better access to mental health services and necessary interventions.
Summary
House Bill 20, titled the 'Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Act', aims to improve mental health awareness and support among students in grades six through twelve across Georgia public schools. The bill mandates that all certificated school personnel receive annual training in depression and suicide awareness and prevention. This training is to be implemented within existing professional development frameworks and must utilize approved materials from the Department of Education.
Contention
One notable point of contention surrounding HB20 includes concerns about the potential overreach of state mandates over local school policies. Critics may argue that while training and screening are necessary, the imposed regulations might limit the flexibility of local systems to cater to their community-specific needs. Furthermore, discussions about the adequacy of training materials and the qualifications of trainers could arise, especially regarding culturally competent approaches to mental health issues.
Conclusions
Overall, HB20 reflects a significant step towards addressing the mental health crisis faced by students, aligning educational policies with the urgent need for mental health intervention and support. With proper funding and resource allocation, the act could lead to improved outcomes for students experiencing mental health challenges, creating a safer and more supportive educational environment.
State Board of Education; adopt rules to require all certified public school personnel to receive annual training in depression and suicide awareness and prevention
Education; local school systems or public schools issuing identification cards to include certain information regarding suicide prevention resources; require
Quality Basic Education Act; course of study in sex education and HIV/AIDS prevention instruction is age appropriate and provides instruction on consent and intimate partner violence and abuse
Relating to the establishment of the Texas Board of Behavior Analyst Examiners and the requirement to obtain a license to practice as a behavior analyst or assistant behavior analyst; imposing fees; providing an administrative penalty.
Relating to the establishment of the Texas Board of Behavior Analyst Examiners and the requirement to obtain a license to practice as a behavior analyst or assistant behavior analyst; imposing fees; providing an administrative penalty; providing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense.
Changes the name of "applied behavior assistant analyst" to "assistant applied behavior analyst" and makes several changes to provide consistency in the certification language for behavioral analysts.
Changes the name of "applied behavior assistant analyst" to "assistant applied behavior analyst" and makes several changes to provide consistency in the certification language for behavioral analysts.