HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2982        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 636

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Bradley H. Jones, Jr.

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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 establishing a commission to study mental health education requirements in public schools.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Bradley H. Jones, Jr.

20th Middlesex

2/18/2021

Susan Williams Gifford

2nd Plymouth

2/25/2021

Paul K. Frost

7th Worcester

3/11/2021

Kimberly N. Ferguson

1st Worcester

3/22/2021

Mathew J. Muratore

1st Plymouth

3/23/2021

Steven S. Howitt

4th Bristol

3/31/2021

Hannah Kane

11th Worcester

4/1/2021


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2982        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 636

By Mr. Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 636) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and others for legislation to establish a special commission (including members of the General Court) to study mental health education requirements in public schools.  Education.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

_______________

 

An Act establishing a commission to study mental health education requirements in public schools.

 

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. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a special commission to study the implementation of a statewide mental health education curriculum in public schools.

SECTION 2. The commission shall consist of the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on education, who shall serve as the co-chairs; one member to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; one member to be appointed by the president of the senate; one member to be appointed by the house minority leader; one member to be appointed by the senate minority leader; the commissioner of the department of elementary and secondary education or a designee; the commissioner of the department of public health or a designee; one member who shall be a licensed psychiatrist, and one member who shall be a licensed clinical mental health counselor.

SECTION 3. The commission shall make recommendations regarding the components of the curriculum, including but not limited to understanding mental health illnesses and symptoms and best practices for maintaining good mental health. The commission shall make recommendations on the appropriate qualifications for educators leading the curriculum.

SECTION 4. The commission shall submit its report and findings, along with any recommendations and drafted legislation, to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on education, and the clerks of the house of representatives and senate within 12 months of the passage of this act.