LRB-1214/P3
EAW:wlj&cjs
2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
DOA:......Kretschmann, BB0230 - Aid for comprehensive school mental health systems
For 2023-2025 Budget -- Not Ready For Introduction
An Act ...; relating to: the budget.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
education
Primary and secondary education
Aid for comprehensive school mental health services
Under current law, DPI administers a $10 million annual competitive grant program to school districts and independent charter schools for the purpose of collaborating with community mental health agencies to provide mental health services to pupils. This bill eliminates this grant program and replaces it with new categorical aid for comprehensive school mental health services to school districts and independent charter schools.
Under the bill, beginning in the 2023-24 school year, DPI must annually reimburse a school board or the operator of an independent charter school for costs incurred for mental health services during in-school or out-of-school time, up to $100,000 plus $100 per pupil who was enrolled in the school district or independent charter school in the prior year. If the amount appropriated for this purpose is insufficient, DPI must prorate the reimbursements.
For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1
. 20.255 (2) (dc) of the statutes is created to read:
20.255 (2) (dc) Aid for comprehensive school mental health services. The amounts in the schedule for aid for comprehensive school mental health services under s. 115.369.
****Note: This Section
involves a change in an appropriation that must be reflected in the revised schedule in s. 20.005, stats.
Section 2
. 20.255 (2) (dt) of the statutes is repealed.
****Note: This Section
involves a change in an appropriation that must be reflected in the revised schedule in s. 20.005, stats.
Section 3
. 115.367 of the statutes is repealed.
Section
4. 115.369 of the statutes is created to read:
115.369 Aid for comprehensive school mental health services. (1) Beginning in the 2023-24 school year and annually thereafter, the state superintendent shall, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (dc), reimburse a school board or the operator of a charter school established under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x) for expenditures relating to mental health services during in-school or out-of-school time. The annual amount reimbursed under this subsection may not exceed $100,000 plus $100 for each pupil enrolled in the school district or charter school in the prior school year. Mental health services that are eligible for reimbursement under this subsection may include any of the following:
(a) Mental health evidence-based improvement strategies.
(b) Mental health literacy and stigma reduction programs for pupils and adults.
(c) Collaborating or contracting with community mental health providers, consultants, organizations, cooperative educational service agencies, and other experts to provide consultation, training, mentoring, and coaching.
(d) Parent training and informational events.
(e) Assistance programs for pupils and families.
(f) Mental health navigators.
(g) Mental health system planning.
(h) Translator and interpreter services.
(i) Offsetting the costs associated with school-employed mental health professionals accessible to all pupils.
(j) The costs of the setting up spaces and purchasing equipment suitable for mental health telehealth service delivery.
(k) The costs of projects designed to assist minors experiencing problems resulting from the use of alcohol or other drugs or to prevent alcohol or other drug use by minors.
(L) Telehealth services, as defined in s. 440.01 (1) (hm).
(2) The following costs are ineligible for reimbursement under sub. (1):
(a) Payments for direct treatment services or insurance deductibles.
(b) Nonmental health–related training.
(c) Staff salaries for nonmental health–related positions.
(d) Indirect costs of regular school operations such as existing overhead expenses.
(3) If the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (dc) in any fiscal year is insufficient to pay the full amount of aid requested under sub. (1), the state superintendent shall prorate state aid payments among the school boards and the operators of charter schools established under s. 118.40 (2r) and (2x) that are eligible for the aid.
(End)
