HB564: HB564 Georgia Prevention and Plan Act; enact

25 LC 61 0123 House Bill 564 By: Representatives Berry of the 56th, Glaize of the 67th, Crawford of the 89th, Santos of the 117th, and Sanchez of the 42nd A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O fficial Code of Georgia1 Annotated, relating to health of students, so as to provide that the Department of Education2 shall develop a mental health crisis plan to rapidly provide mental health services to students3 experiencing incidents of violence, threats of violence, natura l disasters, or other crisis4 situations; to provide for a definition; to provide for the dev elopment and distribution of5 promotional materials, training programs, and curricula; to provide for the adoption of rules6 and regulations; to provide for a short title; to provide for r elated matters; to repeal7 conflicting laws; and for other purposes.8 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:9 SECTION 1.10 This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Georgia Prevention and Plan Act."11 SECTION 2.12 Part 3 of Article 16 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the Official C ode of Georgia Annotated,13 relating to health of students, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as follows:14 H. B. 564 - 1 - 25 LC 61 0123 "20-2-779.5.15 (a) As used in this Code section, the term 'local education ag ency' shall have the same16 meaning as set forth in Code Section 20-2-167.1.17 (b) The Department of Education, in consultation with the Depa rtment of Behavioral18 Health and Developmental Disabilities, the Suicide Prevention P rogram established19 pursuant to Code Section 37-1-27, and mental health experts, shall develop a mental health20 crisis plan to rapidly provide mental health services to students experiencing incidents of21 violence, threats of violence, natural disasters, or other crisis situations.22 (c) By January 1, 2026, the mental health crisis plan shall be made available to all local23 education agencies in this state.24 (d) The Department of Education, in consultation with the Depa rtment of Behavioral25 Health and Developmental Disabilities, the Suicide Prevention P rogram established26 pursuant to Code Section 37-1-27, and mental health experts, shall be authorized to develop27 promotional materials, training programs, and curricula to be used in training students and28 school personnel to recognize and report severe mental illness and to provide such29 materials, programs, and curricula to local education agencies.30 (e) The Department of Education shall adopt rules and regulati ons to implement the31 provisions of this Code section."32 SECTION 3.33 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.34 H. B. 564 - 2 -