Bill > H5532

This bill mandates additional state education funding specifically targeted at improving students' mental and behavioral health by requiring districts to receive an extra 2% of their total expenditures for hiring specialized support staff. The funding must be used to employ professionals such as school social workers, counselors, psychologists, paraprofessionals, behavioral specialists, and registered behavior techs (RBTs). To qualify for these funds, school districts must meet specific staffing ratio requirements—such as having one school social worker per 250 students and one school psychologist per 500 students—and maintain policies ensuring students with behavioral challenges receive appropriate de-escalation support before returning to classrooms. The state's Department of Elementary and Secondary Education will oversee the program, collecting performance reports from districts, approving fund usage, and ensuring the money supports innovative and expansive activities beyond existing district funding. If the total calculated costs exceed available funding, the department will proportionally distribute the funds among eligible recipients. The bill aims to address mental health support in schools by providing dedicated resources for hiring specialized staff to help students' emotional and behavioral needs.

Budget and Finance

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