HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3117        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 482

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Natalie M. Higgins

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to the promotion of mental health education.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Natalie M. Higgins

4th Worcester

1/18/2019

Jack Patrick Lewis

7th Middlesex

1/20/2019

Maria Duaime Robinson

6th Middlesex

1/22/2019

Mary S. Keefe

15th Worcester

1/23/2019

Ruth B. Balser

12th Middlesex

1/24/2019

Mike Connolly

26th Middlesex

1/26/2019

Tram T. Nguyen

18th Essex

1/26/2019

Kevin G. Honan

17th Suffolk

1/29/2019

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

1/29/2019

Marjorie C. Decker

25th Middlesex

1/30/2019

Edward F. Coppinger

10th Suffolk

1/30/2019

Liz Miranda

5th Suffolk

1/31/2019

Tami L. Gouveia

14th Middlesex

1/31/2019

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

1/31/2019

Linda Dean Campbell

15th Essex

1/31/2019

Jonathan Hecht

29th Middlesex

1/31/2019

John C. Velis

4th Hampden

1/31/2019

Kay Khan

11th Middlesex

1/31/2019

David M. Rogers

24th Middlesex

2/1/2019

Elizabeth A. Malia

11th Suffolk

2/1/2019

Sean Garballey

23rd Middlesex

2/1/2019

Brendan P. Crighton

Third Essex

2/1/2019

James K. Hawkins

2nd Bristol

2/1/2019

Julian Cyr

Cape and Islands

2/1/2019


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3117        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 482

By Ms. Higgins of Leominster, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 482) of Natalie M. Higgins and others relative to the promotion of mental health education.  Education.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

_______________

 

An Act relative to the promotion of mental health education.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 3 of Chapter 71 is hereby amended by striking the first sentence and inserting in place the following:- “Physical and mental health education shall be taught as required subjects in all grades for all students in the public schools for the purpose of promoting the physical and mental well-being of such students. Mental health education programs shall recognize multiple dimensions of health by including mental health, and the relationship of physical health and mental health, so as to enhance student understanding, attitudes and behaviors that promote health, well-being and human dignity.”

SECTION 2. Section 1 of Chapter 76 is hereby amended by striking the last sentence and inserting in place the following:- “For the purposes of this section, school committees shall approve a private school when satisfied that the instruction in all the studies required by law equals in thoroughness and efficiency, and in the progress made therein, that in the public schools in the same town, in addition to the incorporation of a mental health education program into the curriculum in accordance with the provisions in section three of chapter seventy-one; but shall not withhold such approval on account of religious teaching, and, in order to protect children from the hazards of traffic and promote their safety, cities and towns may appropriate money for conveying pupils to and from any schools approved under this section.”