HB2287: Mental health first aid training plan; local school board complete development of by July 1, 2014.


HOUSE BILL NO. 2287
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the House Committee on Education
on January 28, 2013)
(Patron Prior to Substitute--Delegate Krupicka)
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-271.1:1, relating to local school boards; Mental Health First Aid training plan.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-271.1:1 as follows:

§ 22.1-271.1:1. Mental Health First Aid training plan.

Each local school board, in conjunction with the local community services boards, shall develop a Mental Health First Aid training plan for such teachers and pupil personnel services employees employed in public schools as the local school board may identify. With such funds as may be appropriated to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services for this purpose, Mental Health First Aid training shall be initially provided by community services board staff members in each health planning region, as defined in § 32.1-102.1, who shall deliver a 12-hour interactive certification course to train such teachers and pupil personnel services employees in the risk factors, warning signs, and communication and referral skills for individuals developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.

2. That each local school board shall seek to complete development of its Mental Health First Aid training plan no later than July 1, 2014.

3. That such training plans and their implementation shall only occur if funds are appropriated for such purposes.

HOUSE BILL NO. 2287

Offered January 16, 2013
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 22.1-271.1:1, relating to local school boards; mental health first aid training plan.

Patrons-- Krupicka, Lopez, O'Bannon, Yost, Bulova, Crockett-Stark, Helsel, Hodges and Pogge

Referred to Committee on Education

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 22.1-271.1:1 as follows:

§ 22.1-271.1:1. Mental health first aid training plan.

With such funds as may be appropriated for this purpose, each local school board, in conjunction with a local community services board located in the local school division, shall develop a mental health first aid training plan that provides mental health first aid training for teachers employed in the public elementary and secondary schools of the local school division. Such mental health first aid training shall, at least initially, be provided by four local community services board staff members in each health planning region, as defined in § 32.1-102.1, who shall deliver a 12-hour interactive course to train teachers in the risk factors, warning signs, symptoms, and treatment of depression, anxiety disorders, trauma, psychotic disorders, eating disorders, and substance use disorders.

2. That each local school board shall seek to complete development of its mental health first aid training plan no later than July 1, 2014.