summary
Introduced
02/20/2025
02/20/2025
In Committee
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
AN ACT To amend Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to health of students, so as to enact the "APEX Now Program"; to provide support for mental health services to students and school personnel experiencing incidents of violence, threats of violence, natural disasters, and other crisis situations; to provide for such program to be established within the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities; to provide for the development and promulgation of a mental health crisis plan; to provide for a 24 hour online and telephonic hotline; to provide for prospective parental consent; to provide for contracting for services; to provide for liability; to provide for funding; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
AI Summary
This bill establishes the APEX Now Program within the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to provide mental health support for students and school personnel during crisis situations like violence, natural disasters, or threats of violence. The program includes several key components: developing a comprehensive mental health crisis plan with designated lead coordinators and deployment strategies, creating a 24/7 online and telephonic hotline for reporting risks or seeking mental health referrals, and establishing a system for providing timely mental health evaluations and treatment services. Students can make anonymous reports, and school personnel can refer students for mental health services. The bill requires local education agencies to designate contact persons and allows parents to provide prospective consent for their children's mental health services through an electronic opt-in system. The state will select telehealth mental health providers based on specific criteria, including ability to serve students regardless of insurance coverage, language capabilities, and track record in school settings. Importantly, the bill provides liability protection for individuals making good-faith referrals and prohibits adverse employment actions against school personnel who participate in the program. Funds can be used for equipment, provider reimbursement, and staff training, with the goal of improving mental health support and crisis response in educational settings.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (6)
Bethany Ballard (R)*,
Chris Erwin (R)*,
Lydia Glaize (D)*,
Todd Jones (R)*,
Holt Persinger (R)*,
Rick Townsend (R)*,
Last Action
House Second Readers (on 02/24/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70599 |
| BillText | https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20252026/233249 |
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