HB 26: School Behavioral Mental Health Support Act; enact

Georgia schools currently have no dedicated state grant program to connect students with outside mental health and substance use disorder providers. 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, subject to the legislature actually funding it. Eligible grant recipients would include community service boards, community mental health centers, licensed healthcare providers who treat mental health or substance use disorders, and Medicaid providers employing such licensed staff. Grant money could pay for identifying and treating student mental health needs, telehealth equipment and services, transportation for students outside school hours, family support navigating healthcare and juvenile justice systems, and staff training. Grantees would have to bill other insurance sources first (not the school itself) but must still serve students regardless of insurance status or ability to pay, and must report outcome data back to the department.

• Creates a new school-linked behavioral health grant program inside the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, dependent on available state funding.
• Defines 'mental health or substance use disorder' as a mental illness or addictive disease for purposes of the program.
• Limits eligible grant applicants to community service boards, community mental health centers, licensed mental health providers, and qualifying Medicaid providers.
• Lists allowable uses of grant money, including diagnosis, telehealth treatment, family support services, off-hours student transportation, and school staff training.
• Requires grantees to seek other available insurance or third-party payment first, but still serve all students regardless of coverage or ability to pay.
• Requires grantees to collect and report data to the department so the program's effectiveness can be measured.

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

If funded, the bill could bring mental health screening, treatment, telehealth services, and family support directly into or alongside schools for students who need it, regardless of their family's ability to pay, potentially reducing gaps between school needs and outside mental health care access.

• Section 1 names the bill the 'School Behavioral Mental Health Support Act.'
• Section 2 adds new Code Section 37-1-30, defining 'mental health or substance use disorder' as mental illness or addictive disease.
• Section 2(b) makes the grant program subject to available appropriations, meaning it only operates if the legislature funds it.
• Section 2(c) limits eligible applicants to four categories of mental health and substance use treatment entities and providers.
• Section 2(d) lists six categories of allowable grant expenses, from diagnosis and treatment to telehealth equipment and staff training.
• Section 2(e) requires grantees to pursue other reimbursement sources first, excludes local school systems as a reimbursement source, and requires service regardless of ability to pay.
• Section 2(f) requires grantees to collect and submit data to the department to evaluate 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
• student behavioral health
• substance use treatment
• education funding
• telehealth