HF 2063 (LSB 5794YH (3) 90)

HOUSE FILE 2063

BY  ISENHART

A BILL FOR

An Act providing for the staffing of mental health professionals in primary and secondary schools and making appropriations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  280.36  Mental health professionals —— appropriation.
   1.  Each public school and nonpublic school shall have a minimum of one health care professional with mental health credentials available on site daily to assist students during normal hours of instruction.
   2.  There is appropriated annually from the general fund of the state to the department of education an amount sufficient to meet the requirements of subsection 1.
   3.  The department of health and human services shall assist the department of education in determining the annual amount necessary to meet the requirements of subsection 1.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill requires all charter schools, public schools, and accredited nonpublic schools to have a minimum of one health care professional with mental health credentials available on site to assist students during normal hours of instruction.
   The bill annually appropriates to the department of education an amount sufficient to provide this staffing, and requires the department of health and human services to assist the department of education in determining the required amount.