Bill Text: AZ HB2155 | 2021 | Fifty-fifth Legislature 1st Regular | Introduced
Bill Title: Early childhood mental health; appropriations
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-02-08 - House HHS Committee action: Do Pass, voting: (6-3-0-0-0-0) [HB2155 Detail]
Download: Arizona-2021-HB2155-Introduced.html
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REFERENCE TITLE: early childhood mental health; appropriations |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session 2021
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HB 2155 |
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Introduced by Representatives Espinoza: Jermaine, Senator Marsh
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AN ACT
Establishing the early childhood mental health consultation and referral pilot program; appropriating monies.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Early childhood mental health consultation and referral pilot program; service provider; reporting requirements; appropriations; exemption; delayed repeal
A. The early childhood mental health consultation and referral pilot program is established. The program shall meet all of the following criteria:
1. Support the social and emotional well‑being of children who are not yet in kindergarten.
2. Build the skills and capacity of early childhood education professionals and caregivers.
3. Include prevention, early identification and reduction of challenging behaviors.
4. Improve the capacity of teaching staff and caregivers to manage the emotional climate of the learning environment.
5. Decrease the rate of program suspension and expulsion.
B. The department of economic security shall award a contract on a competitive basis to a service provider that demonstrates the ability to implement an early childhood mental health consultation and referral program, to educate early childhood education professionals and caregivers on how to meet the social and emotional needs of children in their care and to improve the educational and emotional climate for young children.
C. The department shall require the service provider to submit a quarterly report containing the following:
1. The number of children and providers participating in the program.
2. The number of referrals for mental health services.
3. The number of school suspensions and expulsions avoided.
4. Other outcomes as determined by the department.
D. On or before October 1 of each year, the department shall submit to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives a report containing a detailed description of the outcomes achieved for both children and early childhood education professionals and caregivers of the program.
E. The sum of $2,000,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in each of fiscal years 2021‑2022, 2022‑2023, 2023‑2024, 2024‑2025 and 2025‑2026 to the department of economic security for the early childhood mental health consultation and referral pilot program established by this section. The appropriations made in this subsection are exempt from the provisions of section 35‑190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations.
F. This section is repealed from and after June 30, 2026.
