School closures: mental health effects.

Existing law establishes the State Department of Public Health in the California Health and Human Services Agency. Existing law sets forth its powers and duties pertaining to, among other things, protecting, preserving, and advancing public health, including disseminating information regarding diseases. This bill would require the department, in consultation with the State Department of Education, to establish a policy no later than 6 months after the effective date of the bill, to address the mental health effects of school closures on pupils in years when a state or local emergency declaration results in school closures. The bill would require local educational agencies to adopt the policy subject to an appropriation in the annual Budget Act for that purpose. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.