Bill Text: NJ A3872 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires school districts to provide instruction on mental health referral services as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-05-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [A3872 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-A3872-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman KIM EULNER
District 11 (Monmouth)
Assemblywoman MARILYN PIPERNO
District 11 (Monmouth)
SYNOPSIS
Requires school districts to provide instruction on mental health referral services as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning health and physical education instruction and supplementing chapter 35 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Each board of education of a school district shall incorporate instruction on mental health referral services for students in grades kindergarten through 12 as part of the school district's implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. The instruction shall be age appropriate, and shall include, but need not be limited to, the following information:
a. the stigma of mental illness;
b. understanding mental health and mental illness;
c. group therapy and individual therapy; and
d. the process of seeking a licensed therapist.
2. Each school district shall prominently display on its website information on mental health crisis hotlines and links to mental health resources. The school district shall notify parents and guardians of the resources available on the school district's website.
3. The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, shall provide school districts with guidelines regarding appropriate mental health hotlines and resources to be used by school districts in implementing the provisions of section 2 of this act.
4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full school year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill requires that school districts provide instruction on mental health referral services as part of the implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Comprehensive Health and Physical Education. The instruction will be age appropriate, and will include, but not be limited to, information on: the stigma of mental illness; understanding mental health and mental illness; group therapy and individual therapy; and the process of seeking a licensed therapist.
Also under the bill, a school district will prominently display a link to mental health crisis hotline information, as well as additional mental health resources on the school district's website. The school district will notify parents and guardians of the resources available on the school district's website. The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, will provide school districts with guidelines regarding appropriate mental health resources.
