BILL ANALYSIS Ó ----------------------------------------------------------------- |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 330| |Office of Senate Floor Analyses | | |1020 N Street, Suite 524 | | |(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | | |327-4478 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- UNFINISHED BUSINESS Bill No: SB 330 Author: Padilla (D), et al. Amended: 9/3/13 Vote: 21 SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 9-0, 5/1/13 AYES: Liu, Wyland, Block, Correa, Hancock, Hueso, Huff, Jackson, Monning SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 7-0, 5/23/13 AYES: De León, Walters, Gaines, Hill, Lara, Padilla, Steinberg SENATE FLOOR : 39-0, 5/29/13 AYES: Anderson, Beall, Berryhill, Block, Calderon, Cannella, Corbett, Correa, De León, DeSaulnier, Emmerson, Evans, Fuller, Gaines, Galgiani, Hancock, Hernandez, Hill, Hueso, Huff, Jackson, Knight, Lara, Leno, Lieu, Liu, Monning, Nielsen, Padilla, Pavley, Price, Roth, Steinberg, Torres, Walters, Wolk, Wright, Wyland, Yee NO VOTE RECORDED: Vacancy ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 76-0, 9/9/13 - See last page for vote SUBJECT : Health framework: pupil mental health instruction SOURCE : Author DIGEST : This bill requires, when the Health Framework for Public Schools is next revised, the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) to consider developing and recommending to the CONTINUED SB 330 Page 2 State Board of Education (SBE) a distinct category on mental health instruction to educate pupils about all aspects of mental health. Assembly Amendments (1) add language that requires the IQC to ensure that one or more experts in the mental health and educational fields provides input in the development of the mental health instruction in the health framework, as provided; (2) add language that in the course of recommending curriculum frameworks to the SBE, the IQC shall ensure that one or more experts in the mental health and educational fields provides input in the development of the mental health instruction in the health framework, as specified; and (3) delete language that requires the California Department of Education (CDE) to convene stakeholders in the mental health and educational fields, to provide input for the development of the mental health instruction in the health framework; delete language requiring CDE to review information and programs from other states and countries and language commencing with the 2013-14 school year, authorizing a school district to provide to pupils in any grades mental health instruction, and not require or authorizing the IQC to recommend new health education content standards, as specified. ANALYSIS : Academic content standards define the knowledge, concepts, and skills that pupils should acquire at each grade level (the "what"). Curricular frameworks are the blueprint for implementing the standards, and include criteria by which instructional materials are evaluated (the "how"). The processes for reviewing frameworks and adopting instructional materials have been suspended since July 28, 2009. The SBE is specifically prohibited from reviewing frameworks and adopting instructional materials until the 2015-16 school year. The role of the IQC is to recommend curriculum frameworks to the SBE, develop criteria for evaluating instructional materials, study, evaluate and recommend to the SBE instructional materials for adoption, make recommendations to the SBE regarding the use of frameworks and model curriculum and alignment with the academic content standards. The health framework was last adopted in 2003, and was in the CONTINUED SB 330 Page 3 process of being revised when the statutory (and budgetary) suspension of that process took effect in July 2009. Adoption of the revised health framework was projected for March 2011. This bill: 1.Specifies that mental health instruction shall include, but is not limit to, all of the following: A. Reasonably designed and age-appropriate instruction on the overarching themes and core principles of mental health. B. Defining common mental health challenges such as depression, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and anxiety including post-traumatic stress disorder. C. Elucidating the services and supports that effectively help individuals manage mental health challenges. D. Promoting mental health wellness, which includes positive development, social connectedness and supportive relationships, resiliency, problem solving skills, coping skills, self-esteem, and a positive school and home environment in which pupils feel comfortable. E. Ability to identify warning signs of common mental health problems in order to promote awareness and early intervention so pupils know to take action before a situation turns into a crisis; and, specifies this should include instruction on both of the following: (1) How to appropriately seek and find assistance from mental health professionals and services within the school district and in the community for themselves or others. (2) Appropriate evidence-based research and practices that are proven to help overcome mental health challenges. A. The connection and importance of mental health to overall health and academic success as well as to co-occurring conditions, such as chronic physical CONTINUED SB 330 Page 4 conditions and chemical dependence and substance abuse. B. Awareness and appreciation about the prevalence of mental health challenges across all populations, races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic statuses, including the impact of culture on the experience and treatment of mental health challenges. C. Stigma surrounding mental health challenges and what can be done to overcome stigma, increase awareness, and promote acceptance; and specifies this shall include, to the extent possible, classroom presentations of narratives by peers and other individuals who have experienced mental health challenges, and how they coped with their situations, including how they sought help and acceptance. 1.Specifies that in the normal course of recommending curriculum frameworks to the SBE, the IQC shall ensure that one or more experts in the mental health and education fields provides input in the development of the mental health instruction in the health framework; and specifies that it is the intent of the Legislature that the IQC seek experts in the mental health and education fields, including, but not limited to, stakeholders from culturally, racially, and ethnically diverse communities, representatives from all mental health professions, teachers, counselors, parents, those involved in promoting mental wellness, and those living with a mental health challenge and their families. 2.Specifies that this bill does not require or authorize the IQC to recommend new health education content standards. 3.Makes findings and declarations of the Legislature relating to the importance of mental health awareness; and, that all California kindergarten and grades one to 12, inclusive, pupils have the opportunity to benefit from a comprehensive mental health education curriculum. Comments According to the Senate Education Committee analysis: The health framework appears to contain very little information relative to mental health and does not appear CONTINUED SB 330 Page 5 to include grade-specific expectations. This bill requires the creation of a distinct category on mental health within the health framework. The State Board of Education is prohibited from reviewing frameworks until fall 2015 at the earliest. The health framework was last adopted in 2003, and was in the process of being revised when the statutory (and budgetary) suspension of that process took effect in July 2009. Adoption of the revised health framework was projected for March 2011. There does not appear to be a specific plan for the resumption of the process of reviewing and updating curricular frameworks. Assuming the prior schedule is resumed as it was upon suspension and frameworks for history-social science and science are completed first, the health framework would likely be revisited in 2018 at the earliest. Prior Legislation AB 739 (Lowenthal, 2011) would have required the SBE and the Curriculum Development and Supplemental Materials Commission to include suicide prevention and mental illness awareness instruction in the health education curriculum framework for grades 7th and 8th. AB 739 was held on the Assembly Appropriations Committee's suspense file. FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes Local: No According to the Senate Appropriations Committee: Mental health inclusion in health framework: Potential costs of $140,000, depending on whether this bill intends to update the framework based on current Health Standards for Mental Health, or whether it intends to reopen the Health Standards to update or expand them further. Stakeholder work group: Potentially significant costs. The CDE estimates $80,000 in costs to convene the specified stakeholders to provide input for the framework. SUPPORT : (Verified 5/28/13)(unable to reverify at time of CONTINUED SB 330 Page 6 writing) Association of California School Administrators California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists California Association of School Psychologists California Association of School Social Workers California Medical Association California Mental Health Directors Association California Psychological Association California School Health Centers Association California State PTA Disability Rights California EMQ FamiliesFirst Long Beach Unified School District Los Angeles County Office of Education Los Angeles Unified School District Mental Health America of California National Alliance on Mental Illness National Alliance on Mental Illness, California Chapter ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author, "Mental health challenges touch everyone and affect all age groups, races, ethnicities, and socioeconomic classes." According to the National Institute of Health, an estimated one in five children and one in four adults live with some sort of mental health challenge. Education is one of the best ways to increase awareness and treatment, and reduce the stigma associated with mental health challenges. California's public education system is one of the most effective means to provide each child with an opportunity to acquire knowledge about mental health issues." ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 76-0, 9/9/13 AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Allen, Ammiano, Atkins, Bigelow, Bloom, Bocanegra, Bonilla, Bonta, Bradford, Brown, Buchanan, Ian Calderon, Campos, Chau, Chávez, Chesbro, Conway, Cooley, Dahle, Daly, Dickinson, Eggman, Fong, Fox, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Garcia, Gatto, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon, Gorell, Gray, Grove, Hagman, Hall, Harkey, Roger Hernández, Holden, Jones, Jones-Sawyer, Levine, Linder, Logue, Lowenthal, Maienschein, Medina, Melendez, Mitchell, Morrell, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Nestande, Olsen, Pan, Patterson, Perea, V. Manuel Pérez, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Rendon, Salas, Skinner, Stone, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wieckowski, Wilk, Williams, CONTINUED SB 330 Page 7 Yamada, John A. Pérez NO VOTE RECORDED: Donnelly, Mansoor, Vacancy, Vacancy PQ:ej 9/9/13 Senate Floor Analyses SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE **** END **** CONTINUED