Mental Health Workforce Grant Program.

Existing law establishes the Student Aid Commission as the primary state agency for the administration of state-authorized student financial aid programs available to students attending all segments of postsecondary education. 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 this purpose. This bill, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature for these purposes, would require the commission to administer the Mental Health Workforce Grant Program, which would be established by the bill, to increase the number of mental health professionals serving children and youth. The bill would require the commission to award up to 10,000 grants to postgraduate students over a 3-year period in amounts of up to $25,000 each, as specified. The bill would prescribe eligibility requirements for the grants, including that a grant recipient be enrolled on or after January 1, 2022, in an eligible postgraduate or credential program at a University of California or California State University campus, or an independent institution of higher education, or department of social work, as specified. The bill would require the recipient to make specified commitments, including a commitment to work with an eligible California-based nonprofit entity, as defined, or a local educational agency for specified required supervised experience hours and a commitment that, upon completion of the postgraduate program, the recipient satisfies the requirements to practice in a specified profession.