Pupil health: mental health screenings.

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. Existing law requires a school of a school district or county office of education and a charter school to notify pupils and parents or guardians of pupils no less than twice during the school year on how to initiate access to available pupil mental health services on campus or in the community, or both, as provided. This bill would require a school district, county office of education, state special school, or charter school that serves pupils in grades 6 to 12, inclusive, to, in consultation with school and community stakeholders, school-employed mental health professionals, and behavioral health experts, and before an unspecified school year, adopt a policy on universal mental health screening of pupils for youth behavioral disorders, as defined, in grades 6 to 12, inclusive, as provided. To the extent the bill would impose additional duties on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.