SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1805        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 346

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Rebecca L. Rausch

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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 ensuring access to mental health supports in K-12 schools.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1805        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 346

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act ensuring access to mental health supports in K-12 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 1P of Chapter 69 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after subsection (g) the following subsection:-

(h) As used in this section, the term “school mental health professional” shall mean a school counselor, a school psychologist, or a school social worker. The department of elementary and secondary education shall provide school mental health professionals at a ratio of at least 1 per 250 students, with a minimum of 1 school mental health professional at each elementary and each secondary school in the commonwealth. Consistent with applicable scopes of practice, school mental health professionals may, without limitation, provide mental health services to students; offer training and resources to school faculty and administrators; provide the school with culturally competent and linguistically diverse resources to develop and improve the social and emotional health of students; provide direct social and emotional skill building; assist students and their families with applying for and obtaining necessary public benefits for which each student and the student’s family is eligible; provide services and supports to students who have an individualized education program; consult and coordinate with other school professionals on behalf of students and support families accessing community-based resources as needed and appropriate; and identify food insecurity, homelessness, and other issues affecting students and make referrals to services with the community, bringing those services into the school where possible.