Bill > SB451

This bill requires the Department of Human Services (as the lead agency) and the Department of Education to establish regional behavioral health crisis response teams to support public schools and charter schools starting in the 2025-2026 school year. These teams will help schools manage students who demonstrate behaviors that could potentially cause injury by reviewing behavioral threat data, confirming threat levels, and helping locate appropriate services and placements for at-risk students. The bill mandates that these crisis response teams must respond within 48 hours of a school's request and work with the school and student's family to develop a comprehensive behavioral health management plan. Such plans may include placement options like day treatment facilities, residential treatment centers, state-operated facilities, or homebound programs. The Department of Human Services is also required to identify existing behavioral health programs and establish new ones if current resources are insufficient. Additionally, the bill requires the department to review licensing requirements to ensure that: referred students receive necessary care regardless of their ability to pay, programs provide appropriate treatment, and no student is denied access based on service needs, perceived danger, intellectual functioning, or disability status. The bill includes an emergency clause to emphasize the urgent need to address student mental health and school safety, making it effective immediately upon gubernatorial approval.

Education

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=sb451&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R