102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2021 and 2022
HB3369

 

Introduced 2/22/2021, by Rep. Daniel Didech

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
New Act

    Creates the Universal Child Mental Health Screening Act. Requires universal mental health screening services to be administered to all children as early as possible, but no later than a child's first year in any secondary public or private education program or residential facility for children with disabilities, and periodically thereafter. Requires the Department of Public Health and the State Board of Education to jointly develop rules governing standards, procedures, techniques, and criteria for conducting and administering mental health screenings and to set standards for the training and qualifications of personnel to provide the services. Contains additional requirements for the Department in administering the program of mental health screening services. Provides that no child shall be required to submit to any test required by the Act if a parent or a guardian of the child objects on constitutional grounds and submits a written statement to the agency administering the mental health screening services. Creates the Children's Mental Health Services Advisory Committee to advise the Department in the implementation and administration of the mental health services program and in the development of rules pertaining to that program. Provides that, subject to appropriation, the State Board of Education shall reimburse school districts for any costs associated with providing mental health screenings as required by the Act. Effective immediately.


LRB102 00021 CPF 10022 b

FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

HB3369LRB102 00021 CPF 10022 b

1    AN ACT concerning health.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 1. Short title. This Act may be cited as the
5Universal Child Mental Health Screening Act.
 
6    Section 5. Definitions. In this Act:
7    "Committee" means the Children's Mental Health Services
8Advisory Committee created under Section 30.
9    "Department" means the Department of Public Health.
10    "Director" means the Director of Public Health.
11    "Mental health screening services" means the
12identification, testing, evaluation, and initiation of mental
13health follow-up services as defined in the rules of the
14Department and the State Board of Education, as required by
15Section 15.
 
16    Section 10. Universal mental health screening services.
17Universal mental health screening services shall be
18administered to all children as early as possible, but no
19later than a child's first year in any secondary public or
20private education program or residential facility for children
21with disabilities, and periodically thereafter, to identify
22those children with mental health conditions so that the

 

 

HB3369- 2 -LRB102 00021 CPF 10022 b

1conditions can be managed or treated.
 
2    Section 15. Rules. The Department and the State Board of
3Education shall jointly adopt rules governing standards,
4procedures, techniques, and criteria for conducting and
5administering mental health screenings and shall set standards
6for the training and qualifications of personnel to provide
7the services.
 
8    Section 20. Additional requirements. In administering the
9program of mental health screening services, the Department
10shall not replace any qualified existing service and shall:
11        (1) Provide consulting services to local health
12    departments, school districts, or other community agencies
13    who establish or supplement programs for mental health
14    services.
15        (2) Delegate responsibility to other State agencies,
16    local health departments, school districts, or other
17    community agencies to develop and maintain periodic mental
18    health screening services.
19        (3) Provide direct services through contractual
20    arrangement for the development and maintenance of
21    periodic mental health screening services.
22        (4) Accept reports of mental health evaluations from
23    qualified medical or other professional specialists
24    employed by parents or guardians for mental health

 

 

HB3369- 3 -LRB102 00021 CPF 10022 b

1    evaluations when the reports are submitted to the
2    Department.
3        (5) Review the rules adopted under Section 15 no less
4    than once a year and make changes if deemed necessary.
 
5    Section 25. Objections. No child shall be required to
6submit to any test required by this Act if a parent or a
7guardian of the child objects on constitutional grounds and
8submits a written statement of the objection to the agency
9administering the mental health screening services.
 
10    Section 30. Children's Mental Health Services Advisory
11Committee.
12    (a) The Children's Mental Health Services Advisory
13Committee is created. The Director shall appoint members to
14the Committee, not to exceed 10 individuals. In making
15appointments to the Committee, the Director shall appoint
16individuals with knowledge of or experience in the problems of
17children with mental health conditions.
18    (b) The Committee shall advise the Department in the
19implementation and administration of the mental health
20services program and in the development of rules pertaining to
21that program. The Committee shall select a chairperson from
22its membership and shall meet at least once each calendar
23year.
24    (c) The members of the Committee shall receive no

 

 

HB3369- 4 -LRB102 00021 CPF 10022 b

1compensation for their services. However, the nongovernmental
2members shall be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in
3the performance of their duties in accordance with the State
4of Illinois' travel regulations.
 
5    Section 35. Reimbursement. Subject to appropriation, the
6State Board of Education shall reimburse school districts for
7any costs associated with providing mental health screenings
8required by this Act.
 
9    Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon
10becoming law.