Illinois 2025-2026 Regular Session

Illinois House Bill HB2960 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2960 Introduced , by Rep. Laura Faver Dias SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 105 ILCS 5/27-9.1c new Amends the School Code. Requires each school district that offers one or more courses in health education to pupils in middle school or high school to include in those courses instruction in mental health. Sets forth the required instruction topics and materials. Provides that a pupil receiving instruction under in mental health shall not be required to disclose the pupil's confidential health or mental health information at any time in the course of receiving the instruction. LRB104 08585 LNS 18637 b A BILL FOR 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2960 Introduced , by Rep. Laura Faver Dias SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED: 105 ILCS 5/27-9.1c new 105 ILCS 5/27-9.1c new Amends the School Code. Requires each school district that offers one or more courses in health education to pupils in middle school or high school to include in those courses instruction in mental health. Sets forth the required instruction topics and materials. Provides that a pupil receiving instruction under in mental health shall not be required to disclose the pupil's confidential health or mental health information at any time in the course of receiving the instruction. LRB104 08585 LNS 18637 b LRB104 08585 LNS 18637 b A BILL FOR
2	2	104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2960 Introduced , by Rep. Laura Faver Dias SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
3	3	105 ILCS 5/27-9.1c new 105 ILCS 5/27-9.1c new
4	4	105 ILCS 5/27-9.1c new
5	5	Amends the School Code. Requires each school district that offers one or more courses in health education to pupils in middle school or high school to include in those courses instruction in mental health. Sets forth the required instruction topics and materials. Provides that a pupil receiving instruction under in mental health shall not be required to disclose the pupil's confidential health or mental health information at any time in the course of receiving the instruction.
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8	8	A BILL FOR
9	9	HB2960LRB104 08585 LNS 18637 b HB2960 LRB104 08585 LNS 18637 b
10	10	HB2960 LRB104 08585 LNS 18637 b
11	11	1 AN ACT concerning education.
12	12	2 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
13	13	3 represented in the General Assembly:
14	14	4 Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section
15	15	5 27-9.1c as follows:
16	16	6 (105 ILCS 5/27-9.1c new)
17	17	7 Sec. 27-9.1c. Mental health education required.
18	18	8 (a) Each school district that offers one or more courses
19	19	9 in health education to pupils in middle school or high school
20	20	10 shall include in those courses instruction in mental health
21	21	11 that meets the requirements of this Section. This Section
22	22	12 shall not be construed to limit a school district in offering
23	23	13 or requiring instruction in mental health as specified in this
24	24	14 Section. This instruction shall include:
25	25	15 (1) reasonably designed instruction on the overarching
26	26	16 themes and core principles of mental health;
27	27	17 (2) defining signs and symptoms of common mental
28	28	18 health challenges, including, depending on pupil age and
29	29	19 developmental level, defining conditions such as
30	30	20 depression, suicidal thoughts and behaviors,
31	31	21 schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and
32	32	22 anxiety, including post-traumatic stress disorder;
33	33	23 (3) elucidating the evidence-based services and
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37	37	104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2025 and 2026 HB2960 Introduced , by Rep. Laura Faver Dias SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
38	38	105 ILCS 5/27-9.1c new 105 ILCS 5/27-9.1c new
39	39	105 ILCS 5/27-9.1c new
40	40	Amends the School Code. Requires each school district that offers one or more courses in health education to pupils in middle school or high school to include in those courses instruction in mental health. Sets forth the required instruction topics and materials. Provides that a pupil receiving instruction under in mental health shall not be required to disclose the pupil's confidential health or mental health information at any time in the course of receiving the instruction.
41	41	LRB104 08585 LNS 18637 b LRB104 08585 LNS 18637 b
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43	43	A BILL FOR
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68	68	1 supports that effectively help individuals manage mental
69	69	2 health challenges;
70	70	3 (4) promoting mental health wellness and protective
71	71	4 factors, including positive development, social and
72	72	5 cultural connectedness and supportive relationships,
73	73	6 resiliency, problem solving skills, coping skills,
74	74	7 self-esteem, and a positive school and home environment in
75	75	8 which pupils feel comfortable;
76	76	9 (5) the ability to identify warning signs of common
77	77	10 mental health problems in order to promote awareness and
78	78	11 early intervention so that pupils know to take action
79	79	12 before a situation turns into a crisis, including
80	80	13 instruction on:
81	81	14 (A) how to seek and find assistance from
82	82	15 professionals and services within the school district
83	83	16 that includes, but is not limited to, school
84	84	17 counselors with a pupil personnel services credential,
85	85	18 school psychologists, and school social workers, and
86	86	19 in the community for themselves or others; and
87	87	20 (B) evidence-based and culturally responsive
88	88	21 practices that are proven to help overcome mental
89	89	22 health challenges;
90	90	23 (6) the connection and importance of mental health to
91	91	24 overall health and academic success and to co-occurring
92	92	25 conditions, such as chronic physical conditions, chemical
93	93	26 dependence, and substance abuse;
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104	104	1 (7) awareness and appreciation about the prevalence of
105	105	2 mental health challenges across all populations, races,
106	106	3 ethnicities, and socioeconomic statuses, including the
107	107	4 impact of race, ethnicity, and culture on the experience
108	108	5 and treatment of mental health challenges; and
109	109	6 (8) stigma surrounding mental health challenges and
110	110	7 what can be done to overcome stigma, increase awareness,
111	111	8 and promote acceptance, including, to the extent possible,
112	112	9 classroom presentations of narratives by trained peers and
113	113	10 other individuals who have experienced mental health
114	114	11 challenges and how they coped with their situations,
115	115	12 including how they sought help and acceptance.
116	116	13 (b) Instruction and materials required under this Section
117	117	14 shall satisfy all of the following:
118	118	15 (1) be appropriate for use with pupils of all races,
119	119	16 genders, sexual orientations, and ethnic and cultural
120	120	17 backgrounds, pupils with disabilities, and English
121	121	18 learners;
122	122	19 (2) be accessible to pupils with disabilities,
123	123	20 including, but not limited to, providing a modified
124	124	21 curriculum, materials and instruction in alternative
125	125	22 formats, and auxiliary aids;
126	126	23 (3) not reflect or promote bias against any person on
127	127	24 the basis of any protected person under the definition of
128	128	25 unlawful discrimination in the Illinois Human Rights Act;
129	129	26 and
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