Bill > S0235

This bill requires school boards or committees to establish a districtwide Student Safety and Behavioral Health Committee (SSBHC) with a diverse representation that includes administration, certified staff, support staff, and optionally a school resource officer. The committee's key responsibilities include developing comprehensive mental health support policies for students, ensuring these policies are implemented effectively, assessing available mental health supports, discussing potential improvements, making policy recommendations, and providing an annual report to the school board on student safety, mental health, and behaviors. The committee aims to address student behaviors in a non-punitive manner and create a stable learning environment, working collaboratively with existing school improvement teams while maintaining student privacy by not accessing personally identifiable student information. The bill builds upon existing school improvement team structures and emphasizes a holistic approach to supporting student well-being and learning, and it will take effect immediately upon passage.

Education

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