Bill > LD858

This bill establishes a grant program to provide funding to school administrative units, which are groups of schools or districts, to contract for behavioral and mental health services for students. These services must be provided by licensed professionals and should not duplicate services already covered or reimbursed by MaineCare, a state program that provides health coverage for low-income individuals and families. The bill also ensures that these contracted services do not replace existing school staff who provide similar behavioral and mental health support. The amount of grant funding a school administrative unit receives is based on its student population, with smaller units receiving $3,000, medium-sized units receiving $6,000, and larger units receiving $9,000. The bill allocates $100,000 annually for fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27 from the General Fund to support this grant program, which aims to improve access to crucial mental health support for students.

Education

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=858&snum=132