HB 373 Student Supports Amendment was originally part of HB 120 School Safety. During the legislative process the areas regarding funding for school mental health professionals was pulled from 120 and so became HB 373! UASP is very grateful to Representative Eliason and Senator Millner for sponsoring this bill. We recommend you take a look at the entire language here https://le.utah.gov/~2019/bills/static/HB0373.html.
But here are the pertinent highlights in regards to school psychologists:
...authorizes the State Board of Education (board) to distribute money to local
22 education agencies (LEAs) for personnel who provide school-based mental health
23 support;
24 ▸ requires the board to establish a formula for distribution of money to LEAs;
25 ▸ enacts requirements on LEAs to receive money;
26 ▸ requires the board to make rules related to money for the personnel;
....53F-2-415. Student health and counseling support -- Qualifying personnel --
176 Distribution formula -- Rulemaking.
177 (1) As used in this section, "qualifying personnel" means a school counselor or other
178 counselor, school psychologist or other psychologist, school social worker or other social
179 worker, or school nurse who:
180 (a) is licensed; and
181 (b) collaborates with educators and a student's parent on:
182 (i) early identification and intervention of the student's academic and mental health
183 needs; and
184 (ii) removing barriers to learning and developing skills and behaviors critical for the
185 student's academic achievement.
186 (2) (a) Subject to legislative appropriations, and in accordance with Subsection (2)(b),
187 the state board shall distribute money appropriated under this section to LEAs to provide in a
188 school targeted school-based mental health support, including clinical services and
189 trauma-informed care, through employing or entering into contracts for services provided by
190 qualifying personnel.
Details about how LEA's will apply for money to support staffing of counselors,psychologists, social workers, or nurses has not been delineated yet.
UASP worked in tangent with the state association of school nurses and school counselors to ensure the language included all professionals that support mental health rather than just one group.
