BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 1025 Page 1 Date of Hearing: May 20, 2015 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Jimmy Gomez, Chair AB 1025 (Thurmond) - As Amended May 6, 2015 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy |Education |Vote:|6 - 0 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No SUMMARY: This bill requires the California Department of Education (CDE), to the extent moneys are appropriated in the annual budget act, to establish pilot programs to encourage inclusive practices that integrate mental health, special education, and school AB 1025 Page 2 climate interventions following a multitiered framework. Sunsets the program January 1, 2020. Specifically, this bill: 1)Requires the CDE to develop and implement federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration "Now is The Time" funded pilot projects in accordance with the provisions of this bill. 2)Requires the CDE, contingent upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act, to establish a three-year pilot program in three schools in each of five school districts that apply to participate. Specifies these schools shall not be those that received a federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration "Now is The Time" grant. 3)Requires the CDE to select schools where at least 60% of the student body is eligible for a free or reduced-price meal program and whose applications detail a model approach that targets the behavioral, emotional, and academic needs of pupils with multitiered and integrated mental health, special education, and school climate interventions and other specified criteria. 4)Requires the State Department of Health Care Services, the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, and the CDE to develop a comprehensive evaluation plan to assess the impact of the pilot program and disseminate best practices. 5)Requires pilot program participants to report program outcomes and indicators, designated measures of pupil well-being, academic achievement, and school engagement and attendance. Further, requires the CDE to evaluate the program and provide a report with recommendations. AB 1025 Page 3 6)Requires the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission to revise its guidelines and regulations for Prevention and Early Intervention Programs of the Mental Health Services Act, to require that these prevention and early intervention programs in K-12 schools are designed to support the implementation or expansion of model program established pursuant to this bill. FISCAL EFFECT: 1)Unknown General Fund administrative costs to CDE, likely in excess of $400,000. The bill does not provide a specific grant amount, beyond start up and evaluation funding the first three years and specifies the program is contingent upon an appropriation in the annual budget act. Costs to administer these new grants will depend upon the size and scope of the grants. For example, a grant program that awards $1 million dollars to 15 school districts will necessitate a different staffing level than a program that provides $10 million dollars to 150 school districts. Administrative workload associated with this new program include application development, administering grant awards, coordinating with the Department of Health Care Services to develop a comprehensive evaluation plan to assess the benefits of the program, disseminating best practices, data collection and reporting requirements. 2)Requires the CDE, contingent upon an appropriation in the annual Budget Act, to provide $250,000 in year one; $200,000 in year two; and $150,000 in year three for startup and evaluation funding to each school participating in the pilot AB 1025 Page 4 program. COMMENTS: 1)Purpose. According to the author, nearly one in four youth are living in poverty, almost 60,000 youth are currently placed in foster care and it is estimated that 20 percent of youth are in need of mental health intervention. Too often, students in disadvantaged communities face relational and environmental stressors that, when left unaddressed, hinder their ability to achieve their full potential. Working in partnership with mental health providers, the school community can be empowered with the skills and resources to promote the wellbeing and achievement of all students. This bill requires the SDE to establish pilot programs, to the extent funds are provided in the Budget Act, to encourage practices that integrate mental health, special education, and school climate interventions using a multi-tiered framework. 2)Background. Following the school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary, President Obama established a grant program to increase students' access to mental health treatments. California received $9.7 million from the "Now is the Time Project Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education" grant last fall. Garden Grove Unified School District, Santa Rosa City Schools, and the San Diego County Office of Education were selected to participate in the first component of the grant. These local education agencies (LEAs) will establish a process for referring and connecting children to mental health services. If successful, the models developed by these LEAs can be shared statewide. The grant also provides for a training program called Youth Mental Health First Aid. The training teaches schools' staff how to help youth experiencing mental health or addictions challenges or are in crisis. 3)Related legislation. AB 580 (O'Donnell), pending in this AB 1025 Page 5 committee, requires each school to provide annual training to teachers and classified staff on the early identification of student mental health problems, including protocols for referrals. AB 1133 (Achadjian), pending in this committee, establishes a four-year pilot program, the School-Based Early Mental Health Intervention and Prevention Services Support Program, to provide outreach, free regional training, and technical assistance for local educational agencies in providing mental health services at schoolsites. Analysis Prepared by:Misty Feusahrens / APPR. / (916) 319-2081