Bill > HB105

This bill aims to enhance mental health education in Alaska's public schools by requiring the Board of Education and Early Development to develop comprehensive guidelines for mental health instruction. The bill mandates that local school boards provide parents with at least two weeks' notice before any mental health classes or programs, and allows parents to withdraw their children from such instruction. The state's health education program for kindergarten through 12th grade will now explicitly include mental health alongside other health topics. In developing these guidelines, the board must consult with multiple stakeholders, including the Departments of Health and Family and Community Services, regional tribal health organizations, and mental health experts. The bill requires the board to create developmentally appropriate mental health instruction guidelines and submit a detailed report to the legislature two years after the act's effective date, describing the process of developing these guidelines. The legislation emphasizes a collaborative approach to introducing mental health education, ensuring that the content is age-appropriate and developed with input from various health and education professionals.

Education

https://www.akleg.gov/basis/Bill/Detail/34?Root=HB105