HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.B. NO.	379
THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature recognizes the impact of mental health on student learning and academic achievement. The legislature also recognizes that educators are often the first to notice mental health problems in students. As educational leaders over the State's fifteen complex areas, complex area superintendents have extensive responsibilities over department of education schools, which enrolled approximately 168,000 public school students for the 2018-2019 school year. Educational leaders have a critical role in identifying potential mental health problems in schools, supporting students and their mental health, and improving the outcomes of mental health challenges in education for student success.

The purpose of this Act is to authorize the department of education to provide training on students' mental health issues on an annual basis to complex area superintendents, registered school nurses, and school health aides to support the mental health of students and better support these professionals in meeting the educational needs of students with autism, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, and other mental health problems.

SECTION 2. This Act shall be known and may be cited as "Akayla-Jeremiah-Vanna's Law".

SECTION 3. Chapter 302A, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to part III to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§302A-   Mental health training. (a) To meet the educational needs of students with mental health problems, the department, at its own expense, may develop and coordinate mental health training, including any materials necessary to implement the training, to be offered annually to complex area superintendents, registered school nurses, and school health aides.

(b) Any mental health training under this section shall include training on autism and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Complex area superintendents, registered school nurses, and school health aides may complete on an annual basis:

(1) Two hours of training on:

(A) The causes, symptoms, and key warning signs of students' mental health problems;

(B) Effective approaches for dealing with student behaviors; and

(C) The cultural considerations of students; and

(2) One hour of training on mental health issues and treatment of students.

(c) Any training under this section shall be conducted pro bono by licensed physicians, psychologists, or mental health counselors, certified paraprofessionals, or any other certified trainers approved by the department."

SECTION 4. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Mental Health Training; Complex Area Superintendents; School Nurses; School Health Aides; Akayla-Jeremiah-Vanna's Law; Autism; Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder

Description:

Authorizes the Department of Education, at its own expense, to develop and coordinate mental health training to be offered annually to complex area superintendents, registered school nurses, and school health aides. Includes autism and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder training.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.