SENATE FLOOR VERSION - HB2827 SFLR Page 1 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 SENATE FLOOR VERSION April 12, 2023 ENGROSSED HOUSE BILL NO. 2827 By: Blancett, McBride, Waldron, Alonso-Sandoval, and Hefner of the House and Pemberton of the Senate [ schools - grant program - awards - rule promulgation - codification - effective date - emergency ] BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statu tes as Section 1210.198 of Title 70, unless there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows: A. The State Board of Education shall award grants subject to the availability of funds, to public school district s for the purpose of employing school nurses, school counselors, and mental health professionals to provide services and support to students. B. The grants shall be awarded to public school districts annually based upon the following conditions: SENATE FLOOR VERSION - HB2827 SFLR Page 2 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1. The districts shall provide half of the funding for the grants and the State Board of Educat ion shall provide the other half of the grant funding; 2. School nurses, school counselors, and mental health professionals employed through the grant program shall com plete a training program prescribe d by the State Department of Education; 3. School nurses, school counselors, and mental health professionals may be employed by a district on a full -time or part- time basis, or may be employed on a contract basis with a private, third-party provider; and 4. School nurses, school counselors, and mental health professionals employed through the grant program shall spend a minimum amount of time on their respective nursing and counseling duties as required by the State Depa rtment of Education. C. As used in this section: 1. "Mental health professio nals" means: a. licensed professional counselors (LPCs), b. licensed alcohol and drug counselors (LADCs) , c. school psychologists, d. licensed marriage and family t herapists (LMFTs), e. licensed clinical social w orkers (LCSWs), or f. licensed recreational therapist s (CTRS/L); SENATE FLOOR VERSION - HB2827 SFLR Page 3 (Bold face denotes Committee Amendments) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2. "School counselor" means a person certified as a school counselor by the State Board of Education who provides student support counseling, academic counseling, or both; and 3. "School nurse" shall have the same meaning a s defined in paragraph 7 of Section 1-116 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes. D. The State Board of Education may promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section. SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2023. SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof thi s act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval. COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS April 12, 2023 - DO PASS