HB26: HB26 School Behavioral Mental Health Support Act; enact

Georgia schools currently have no dedicated state grant program aimed at linking students to mental health and substance abuse treatment. House Bill 26, called the School Behavioral Mental Health Support Act, would direct the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities to set up a school-linked behavioral health grant program, but only if the legislature actually provides funding for it. The grants would go to community service boards, community mental health centers, licensed mental health providers, or Medicaid providers who treat children and families. Grant money could pay for diagnosing and treating students, telehealth equipment, transportation to services outside school hours, staff training, and helping families navigate health care, social services, or the juvenile justice system. Grantees would have to seek other insurance or third-party payment first (not counting local school systems) but must still serve students regardless of ability to pay, and must report data back to the department on outcomes.

• Establishes a school-linked behavioral health grant program inside the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, contingent on available funding.
• Defines eligible grant recipients as community service boards, community mental health centers, licensed mental health providers, and certain Medicaid providers.
• Lists allowable uses of grant money, including diagnosis, treatment, telehealth equipment, transportation, staff training, and family support services.
• Requires grantees to pursue other insurance or payment sources first, but bars them from turning away students who lack coverage or cannot pay.
• Requires grantees to collect and report data to the department so the program's effectiveness can be evaluated.

K-12 students with mental health or substance use disorder needs and their families, community service boards, community mental health centers, licensed mental health providers, Medicaid providers, school staff who would receive training, and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, which would run the program.

If funded, schools could connect students to counseling, treatment, and family support without students needing existing insurance coverage, potentially reaching kids who currently go without mental health services. Because the program depends on the legislature appropriating money, its actual reach hinges on future budget decisions.

• Section 1 names the bill the 'School Behavioral Mental Health Support Act.'
• Section 2 adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. § 37-1-30) creating the grant program, subject to available state funding.
• Subsection (c) defines four categories of eligible grant applicants, including community service boards and Medicaid providers treating children and families.
• Subsection (d) lists allowable grant activities such as diagnosis, treatment via telehealth, transportation, family support, and staff development.
• Subsection (e) requires grantees to seek third-party reimbursement first (excluding local school systems) but still serve students regardless of coverage or ability to pay.
• Subsection (f) requires grantees to collect and report data to the department to measure the program's effectiveness.
• Section 3 repeals any conflicting laws.

1. 2025-01-15House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-01-14House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-01-13House Hopper (House)

• Sandra Scott (D, HD-076)Primary sponsor
• Kim Schofield (D, HD-063)
• Viola Davis (D, HD-087)

• school mental health
• substance use treatment
• student behavioral health
• Medicaid providers
• telehealth