Special education funding: mental health services.

Existing law requires school districts, county offices of education, and special education local plan areas to identify, locate, and assess individuals with exceptional needs and to provide those pupils with a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment, and with special education and related services as reflected in an individualized education program. The Budget Act of 2011 appropriated moneys from the General Fund to the State Department of Education for, among other things, allocation to special education local plan areas to provide educationally related mental health services, including out-of-home residential services for emotionally disturbed pupils, required by an individualized education program. This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to later enact legislation that would increase the flexibility of the use of funds appropriated in the Budget Act of 2011 for providing educationally related mental health services, including out-of-home residential services for emotionally disturbed pupils, required by an individualized education program.