Chapter 19 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2018 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following section at the end thereof: -   

Section XX. (a) There shall be, jointly developed between the Department of Mental Health and a community-based organization specializing in peer-led support groups, a COVID-19 Mental Health Pilot Program to provide trauma-informed peer-led support groups to those parents affected adversely by the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

(b) Pursuant to this act and subject to appropriations, including any federal funding disbursed to the state for the intended purpose of COVID relief measures, there shall be at least three programs established within school districts, across not less than three counties in the commonwealth. Pilot programs shall be established based on indicators related to the impact that COVID-19 has had on the students in those districts, including but not limited to: high concentration of COVID-19 cases, high concentration of poverty, and high rates of COVID-related unemployment. Priority may be given to establishing programs in school districts with large populations of students of color.

(c) Each program shall be operated by a community-based organization specializing in peer-led support groups in partnership with the school district, and shall be staffed by the department as needed to provide appropriate care, with program protocols and a staffing plan to be developed during the first three months following enactment of this legislation. 

(d) The commissioner shall issue a request for proposal for qualified organizations to submit proposals to become the provider of trauma-informed peer-led support groups provided that proposals must be submitted and organizations selected within three months following enactment of this legislation.

(e) The COVID-19 Mental Health Pilot Program shall exist until its mission is deemed complete during the COVID-19 pandemic recovery period as determined jointly by the commissioner of the department of mental health or their designee and the commissioner of the department of public health or their designee, or not more than three years after the expiration of governor’s declaration of a state of emergency dated March 10, 2020, whichever is sooner.