Bill Text: CT SB01137 | 2013 | General Assembly | Chaptered
Bill Title: An Act Concerning The School-based Health Center Advisory Committee And A Study On The Provision Of Behavioral Health Services At School-based Health Centers.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2013-07-12 - Signed by the Governor [SB01137 Detail]
Download: Connecticut-2013-SB01137-Chaptered.html
Substitute Senate Bill No. 1137
AN ACT CONCERNING THE SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND A STUDY ON THE PROVISION OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES AT SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH CENTERS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 19a-6i of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(a) There is established a school-based health center advisory committee for the purpose of [assisting] advising the Commissioner of Public Health [in developing recommendations for] on matters relating to (1) statutory and regulatory changes to improve health care through access to school-based health centers, and (2) minimum standards for the provision of services in school-based health centers to ensure that high quality health care services are provided in school-based health centers.
(b) The committee shall be composed of the following members:
(1) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall be a family advocate or a parent whose child utilizes school-based health center services;
(2) One appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, who shall be a school nurse;
(3) One appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be a representative of a school-based health center that is sponsored by a community health center;
(4) One appointed by the majority leader of the Senate, who shall be a representative of a school-based health center that is sponsored by a nonprofit health care agency;
(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives, who shall be a representative of a school-based health center that is sponsored by a school or school system;
(6) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate, who shall be a representative of a school-based health center that does not receive state funds;
(7) Two appointed by the Governor, one each of whom shall be a representative of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a representative of a school-based health center that is sponsored by a hospital;
(8) One appointed by the Commissioner of Public Health, who shall be a representative of a school-based health center that is sponsored by a local health department;
[(1)] (9) The Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's designee;
[(2)] (10) The Commissioner of Social Services, or the commissioner's designee;
[(3)] (11) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, or the commissioner's designee;
[(4)] (12) The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee; [and]
(13) The executive director of the Commission on Children, or the executive director's designee; and
[(5)] (14) Three school-based health center providers, [who] one of whom shall be the executive director of the Connecticut Association of School-Based Health Centers and two of whom shall be appointed by the board of directors of the Connecticut Association of School-Based Health Centers.
(c) The committee shall meet not less than quarterly. On or before January 1, [2012] 2014, and annually thereafter, the committee shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, on its activities to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health and education.
(d) Administrative support for the activities of the committee may be provided by the [Connecticut Association of School-Based Health Centers] Department of Public Health.
Sec. 2. (Effective from passage) (a) The Commissioner of Public Health, in consultation with the Commissioner of Children and Families and the school-based health center advisory committee, established pursuant to section 19a-6i of the general statutes, as amended by this act, shall study the provision of behavioral health services by school-based health centers in the state, provided the Department of Public Health receives private or federal funds for the purpose of conducting such study. For purposes of this section, "school-based health center" means a health clinic, licensed by the Department of Public Health pursuant to section 19a-491 of the general statutes, that provides health care services to students at a school.
(b) Not later than February 1, 2014, the Commissioner of Public Health shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health concerning the study conducted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, provided the commissioner conducts such study. Such report shall include, but need not be limited to: (1) Recommendations for standards concerning the provision of behavioral health services at school-based health centers; (2) recommendations for oversight of the provision of behavioral health services at school-based health centers; (3) the estimated cost for all school-based health centers in the state to provide the recommended behavioral health services; (4) a description of the behavioral health services currently provided at school-based health centers; and (5) recommendations for maximizing reimbursement for such behavioral health services by private insurance and social service programs, including medical assistance programs administered by the Department of Social Services.