Amendment #8 to H4879

Establishing a student stakeholder advisory commission on mental health

Representatives Jones of North Reading, Ferguson of Holden, Frost of Auburn, Gifford of Wareham, Barrows of Mansfield and Smola of Warren move to amend the bill by adding the following section:

"SECTION__. There is hereby established a permanent standing student stakeholder advisory commission on mental health whose members shall work in collaboration with the department of elementary and secondary education to develop and implement school-based programs to promote student mental health and well-being and to evaluate the effectiveness of current statutes related to these issues. The commission shall meet not less than two times a year with the commissioner of elementary and secondary education and not less than once a year with the board of elementary and secondary education to ensure that students and their families in the commonwealth have access to a wide range of comprehensive mental health programs and services. The commission shall work with the department and the board to develop programs and services related to, but not limited to, the following: (i) eliminating the stigma associated with mental health illness; (ii) recognizing the signs of mental health problems; (iii) addressing cyberbullying; (iv) preventing and responding to student suicide and actions involving self-harm; (v) helping students avoid negative coping behaviors such as substance use; and (vi) promoting treatment and recovery from mental illness. The commission shall consist of 15 members, including the commissioner of the department of mental health, or a designee, who shall serve as the chair; one representative from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Massachusetts’ Allies for Student Mental Health program; one representative from the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health; four representatives from the Massachusetts School Mental Health Consortium who shall each reflect geographically diverse areas of the commonwealth; one representative from the Massachusetts School Counselors Association; one representative from the Parent Professional Advocacy League (PPAL); one medical professional appointed by the Massachusetts Medical Society who shall be a licensed psychiatrist specializing in adolescent mental health care; one student representative from the Massachusetts Association of Student Councils; and four secondary school students, one of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the house, one of whom shall be appointed by the president of the senate, one of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives, and one of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate. All secondary school student members of the commission shall be appointed on an annual basis and shall be eligible for re-appointment provided they have not yet graduated high school. The commission shall issue an annual report by June 30 updating the legislature on its findings and recommendations, including any proposed changes to current statute, with copies provided to the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery, the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on health care financing, the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on education, the house and senate chairs of ways and means, and the clerks of the house and the senate."

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #8 to H4879

Establishing a student stakeholder advisory commission on mental health