Bill > HB3507

This bill establishes a Qualified Mental Health Professional (QMHP) Pilot Program in West Virginia, requiring 10 selected counties to have at least one qualified mental health professional in each public school. A QMHP is defined as a person professionally registered by the West Virginia Board of Examiners in Counseling to provide collaborative mental health services, and notably, school counselors will automatically be classified as QMHPs under this bill. The pilot program will run for two years, after which the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education and Accountability (LOCEA) will review a detailed report and potentially expand the program to more counties. The bill also provides comprehensive guidelines for school counselors, including their primary responsibilities, training requirements, and limitations on non-counseling duties. School counselors will be required to participate in biennial training covering topics such as career counseling, academic planning, personal and social counseling, and prevention strategies. Additionally, the bill allows counties to contract with federal and state agencies for billing purposes related to the pilot program, and removes previous language about funding limitations.

Budget and Finance

http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=3507&year=2025&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill