PRINTER'S NO. 1797
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1545
Session of
2023
INTRODUCED BY HOGAN AND MARSHALL, JUNE 29, 2023
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JUNE 29, 2023
AN ACT
Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An
act relating to the public school system, including certain
provisions applicable as well to private and parochial
schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the
laws relating thereto," providing for Digital Mental Health
Services Pilot Program.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known
as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding an
article to read:
ARTICLE XV-N
DIGITAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PILOT PROGRAM
Section 1501-N. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this article
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Department." The Department of Education of the
Commonwealth.
"Digital platform." An electronic web-based tool that meets
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the requirements in section 1503-N and provides for integrated,
guided and self-guided assessment, support, prevention and
treatment in mental health.
"Mental health services." The provision of assistance or
preparation of a plan of assistance to students who are
experiencing anxiety, stress, trauma or other mental or
emotional impairments interfering with the student's education
and behavior at school, with the goal of helping students engage
in the school community in a productive and positive manner that
maximizes social and emotional development and learning.
"Program." The Digital Mental Health Services Pilot Program
established under section 1502-N(a).
"School entity." A school district, charter school, regional
charter school, cyber charter school, intermediate unit or area
career and technical school.
Section 1502-N. Digital Mental Health Services Pilot Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Digital Mental Health Services Pilot
Program is established in the department for the purpose of
developing and administering a pilot program to assist school
entities with access to mental health services for students
through an evidence-based digital platform.
(b) Program operation.--The program shall operate for three
full school years, beginning with the school year that begins at
least six months after the effective date of this section.
(c) Eligibility.--The department may select up to 50 school
entities, geographically dispersed throughout this Commonwealth,
to participate in the program.
(d) Application.--A school entity seeking to participate in
the program shall complete an application to be established by
the department. The department may accept up to 50 applications
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per academic year. Applications accepted by the department shall
be geographically dispersed across this Commonwealth. The
department may not charge school entities a fee for
participation in the program.
(e) Grants.--The department shall develop a procedure for
awarding grants to school entities selected to participate in
the program for the purpose of providing mental health services
via a department-approved digital platform.
Section 1503-N. Approval of digital platforms.
The department shall develop a procedure for approving
evidence-based digital mental health service platforms for use
by school entities that meet the following minimum
qualifications:
(1) The digital platforms shall provide a student online
peer support community.
(2) A student shall have access to engaging, self-
guided, evidence-based therapeutic tools, content and
clinical activities.
(3) A student shall have the ability to interact with a
mental health practitioner in real time and via scheduled
therapy through text-based interactions.
(4) The digital platforms shall be made available to all
students enrolled in a school entity and provide the ability
to refer students to mental health services already provided
by the school entity.
(5) The digital platforms shall have a proven risk
management process that will escalate any student in crisis.
(6) The digital platforms shall have reporting that
collates data and highlights trends in mental health across
school entities.
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(7) The digital platforms shall have a demonstrated
ability to service multiple school entities in multiple
counties.
(8) The digital platforms shall have proven peer-
reviewed research and evidence-based clinical outcomes.
(9) The digital platforms shall have demonstrated
experience with implementations to school-based populations.
Section 1504-N. Duties of school entities.
A school entity may provide access to digital mental health
services on the premise of the school entity. A school entity
providing access to digital mental health services shall do the
following:
(1) Notify all parents or guardians of all students
enrolled in the school entity that the school entity is
providing access to mental health services via telemedicine.
(2) Maintain parent or guardian consent forms for the
provision of the mental health services. Consent forms shall
be required for each academic year in which a student
receives the mental health services.
Section 1505-N. Funding.
The department may use the following funding to award grants
and administer the program:
(1) Appropriations made by the General Assembly for the
program.
(2) Funding appropriated to the department for general
government operations.
Section 1506-N. Term.
The program shall expire three years from the effective date
of this section.
Section 1507-N. Reporting.
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(a) Report from school entity.--A school entity selected to
participate in the program shall submit a report to the
department no later than 60 days after the end of an academic
year. The report shall include:
(1) The number of students who participated in the
program.
(2) Any other information requested by the department.
(b) Report to General Assembly.--The department shall
compile a Statewide report based on the information submitted
under subsection (a) and submit a report no later than December
31 of each year to the chairperson and minority chairperson of
the Appropriations Committee of the Senate, the chairperson and
minority chairperson of the Appropriations Committee of the
House of Representatives, the chairperson and minority
chairperson of the Education Committee of the Senate and the
chairperson and minority chairperson of the Education Committee
of the House of Representatives.
Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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