AB 1479: Pupil health: social-emotional, behavioral, and mental health supports.

Existing law requires the governing board of a school district to give diligent care to the health and physical development of pupils and authorizes the governing board of a school district to employ properly certified persons for the work, including school psychologists and counselors.

This bill would establish the Pupil Social-Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Program, to be administered by the State Department of Education, to provide eligible local educational agencies with an allocation of moneys to provide Model Tier 1 Support, as defined, accessible to pupils and families. The bill would require all schools within a school district or county office of education, and charter schools that meet certain criteria and have a plan approved by the department to provide evidence-based, Tier 1 social-emotional, behavioral, and mental health support accessible to pupils and families, to be eligible for an apportionment of state funds under the program for those purposes, as provided. The bill would condition the implementation of these provisions upon an appropriation by the Legislature.