Senate Education Spending Proposal Cuts Children’s Mental Health Appropriation
The Senate is now ready to consider the Education spending plan for the 2020 fiscal year.
That chamber has unveiled its funding plan, which does not include the appropriation of $3 million for the establishment of a Children’s Mental Health School Based Training and Support Program, as proposed by the House.
The Senate proposes to spend $15.9 million less from the state’s general fund for eduction in the upcoming fiscal year.
Negotiations to develop an Education spending agreement between the House and Senate have begun. We will keep you updated.
Bill of interest:
SF 547 (formerly SF 372) ESGs (M) – This bill provides education savings grants for pupils attending accredited nonpublic schools or specified public schools and establishes an education savings grant fund.
Appropriations subcommittee: Breitbach, Celsi and Kraayenbrink.
SF 342 – Alcohol Overdose Reporting Protection (F) – The bill provides that a person under the age of 21 shall not be charged or prosecuted for public intoxication, possession of alcohol under the legal age, use of a driver’s license by an underage person to obtain alcohol, or possession of an open container in a motor vehicle, if the person in good faith sought emergency assistance for the person or another person due to an alcohol overdose or because the person or other person is a victim of assault, sexual abuse, or human trafficking.
On Senate Debate Calendar
HF 758 (formerly HSB 248) – Education Appropriations (M) – Included in this 30-page bill is a new appropriation of $3 million for training teachers and educators to detect potential mental health issues in students and to determine follow-up actions.
Approved by the House 58-38
HF 690 (formerly HSB 206) – Children’s Mental Health (F) – The bill establishes a children’s behavioral health system and a children’s behavioral health system state board, and requires certain children’s behavioral health core services be provided. The bill also includes the establishment of a single statewide 24-hour mental health crisis telephone hotline.
Passed the House 83-14. Passed by the Senate 46-2.
HF 684 (formerly HSB 175) – Alcohol Overdose Reporting Protection (F) – The bill provides that a person under the age of 21 shall not be charged or prosecuted for public intoxication, possession of alcohol under the legal age, use of a driver’s license by an underage person to obtain alcohol, or possession of an open container in a motor vehicle, if the person in good faith sought emergency assistance for the person or another person due to an alcohol overdose or because the person or other person is a victim of assault, sexual abuse, or human trafficking.
On House debate calendar
HF 598 (formerly HF 197) – Sibling Class Assignments (M) – The bill allows the parents or guardians to request that twins (or any other level of multiples) be placed in the same classroom or different classrooms. Unless the principal determines that the requested placement would create a classroom disruption, the request would be honored.
After the first grading period of the school year the principal and the students teachers can determine that the placement was disruptive and the students can be placed in different classes.
Passed the House 91-5. Approved by the Senate 44-5.