Bill Text: VA HJR441 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Elementary/secondary schools; Va. Com. on youth to study policies to support student mental health.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-29 - Tabled in Rules (15-Y 0-N) [HJR441 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2025-HJR441-Introduced.html
2025 SESSION
INTRODUCED
25103869D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 441
Offered January 8, 2025
Prefiled January 5, 2025
Directing the Virginia Commission on Youth to study and recommend policies to support student mental health in Virginia's elementary and secondary schools. Report.
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Patrons—Martinez and Reaser
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Committee Referral Pending
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WHEREAS, serious and persistent mental health issues afflict public elementary and secondary students across the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, such issues manifest in a variety of academic and personal issues that can prevent students from excelling in school; and
WHEREAS, public elementary and secondary schools across the Commonwealth are under-resourced to meet the individualized needs of each student who struggles with mental health issues; and
WHEREAS, it is imperative for the General Assembly to now study and propose concrete solutions for addressing this urgent crisis; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Virginia Commission on Youth be directed to study and recommend policies to support student mental health in Virginia's elementary and secondary schools. In conducting its study, the Commission on Youth shall focus on strategies for improving funding and other resources, training and professional development, partnerships with health services, curriculum development, research and evaluation, and public awareness campaigns.
Technical assistance shall be provided to the Commission on Youth by the Behavioral Health Commission and the staffs of the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance and Appropriations. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Commission on Youth for this study, upon request.
The Commission on Youth shall complete its meetings for the first year by November 30, 2025, and for the second year by November 30, 2026, and the chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the next Regular Session of the General Assembly for each year. Each executive summary shall state whether the Commission on Youth intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summaries and reports shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.
