Bill Text: IL HB1243 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Amends the Course of Study Article of the School Code. Requires each public school to provide a separate course of study on mental health that instructs students on how to recognize the signs of anxiety, depression, and other forms of mental illness. Provides that all students in grades kindergarten through 12 must take the course each school year, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year. Provides that the course length must be at least one semester or its equivalent but that the school board shall determine the minimum amount of instructional time required for the course. Requires the State Board of Education to prepare and make available to school boards resource materials on mental illness that must be used as guidelines for the development of the course.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2023-03-27 - Rule 19(a) / Re-referred to Rules Committee [HB1243 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-HB1243-Introduced.html

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103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY State of Illinois 2023 and 2024 HB1243 Introduced , by Rep. Jonathan Carroll SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
105 ILCS 5/27-23.17 new
Amends the Course of Study Article of the School Code. Requires each public school to provide a separate course of study on mental health that instructs students on how to recognize the signs of anxiety, depression, and other forms of mental illness. Provides that all students in grades kindergarten through 12 must take the course each school year, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year. Provides that the course length must be at least one semester or its equivalent but that the school board shall determine the minimum amount of instructional time required for the course. Requires the State Board of Education to prepare and make available to school boards resource materials on mental illness that must be used as guidelines for the development of the course.
LRB103 05769 RJT 50789 b
STATE MANDATES ACT MAY REQUIRE REIMBURSEMENT MAY APPLY
A BILL FOR
HB1243 LRB103 05769 RJT 50789 b
AN ACT concerning education.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
represented in the General Assembly:
Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section
27-23.17 as follows:
(105 ILCS 5/27-23.17 new)
Sec. 27-23.17. Mental health course of study.
(a) In addition to the mental health and illness
instruction required under the Critical Health Problems and
Comprehensive Health Education Act, each public school shall
provide a separate course of study on mental health that
instructs students on how to recognize the signs of anxiety,
depression, and other forms of mental illness. All students in
grades kindergarten through 12 must take the course each
school year, beginning with the 2024-2025 school year.
(b) The course length under this Section must be at least
one semester or its equivalent; however, the school board
shall determine the minimum amount of instructional time
required for the course.
(c) The State Board of Education shall prepare and make
available to school boards resource materials on mental
illness that must be used as guidelines for the development of
a course under this Section.