H.R. 787 – Reading Mode

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 787

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 4, 2021

Mr. Allen (for himself and Mr. Cline) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

A BILL

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to improve mental health services for students, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Expanding Student Access to Mental Health Services Act.

Supporting mental health

(a)

State use of funds

Section 4104(b)(3)(B) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7114(b)(3)(B)) is amended—

(1)

in clause (iii), by striking and at the end; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(v)

improving the mental health services available to students, which may include—

(I)

identifying and disseminating best practices for mental health first aid;

(II)

assisting in the establishment or implementation of emergency planning, which may include emergency response teams to address emergencies at schools;

(III)

establishing or identifying agreements with local health agencies, including nonprofit, public, and private mental health agencies and institutions, to improve coordination of services; and

(IV)

telehealth services; and

(b)

Local educational agency applications

Section 4106(e)(1) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7116(e)(1)) is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (D), by striking and at the end;

(2)

by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (F); and

(3)

by inserting after subparagraph (D), the following:

(E)

if applicable, how funds will be used for activities related to providing mental health services under section 4108; and

(c)

Activities To support the effective use of technology

Section 4109 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7119) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a)—

(A)

in paragraph (5), by striking and at the end;

(B)

in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(C)

by adding at the end the following:

(7)

providing technology to improve mental health services.

; and

(2)

in subsection (b)—

(A)

by striking A local and inserting the following:

(1)

In general

A local

; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following:

(2)

Exception

The limitation described in paragraph (1) shall not apply to technology infrastructure that is also used for mental health services.