FISCAL NOTE

Senate Bill 93 as introduced requires local boards of education (1) commencing with the 2021-2022 school year, to employ a mental health service coordinator to coordinate student mental health services throughout the local school system, subject to appropriations by the Legislature; and (2) to complete and submit a needs assessment and resource map to the Department of Mental Health (ADMH) by September 30, 2021. This bill would increase the obligations of the local boards of education by an undetermined amount dependent upon the compensation for each mental health service coordinator and the cost to provide the reports to the ADMH. This bill would also increase the obligations of the ADMH by an undetermined amount to create a certification program to certify mental health service coordinators within one year of being hired. This bill further provides that the administration of this bill shall be subject to appropriations made by the Legislature.

The Governor’s Recommended Education Trust Fund Appropriation bill for FY 2022 (SB189) includes (1) an appropriation of $4,530,000 to the State Department of Education for School-Based Mental Health Service Coordinators to provide grants to each local education agency to expand School-Based Mental Health Initiatives, and (2) an appropriation of $2.5 million to the Department of Mental Health for School-Based Mental Health Services Collaboration.