Health Minds for a Better Future Act

To establish a multiagency Middle School Mental Health Task Force at the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Health Minds for a Better Future Act 2. Middle School Mental Health Task Force (a) In general There is established a multiagency Middle School Mental Health Task Force (referred to in this section as the Task Force (b) Members (1) In general The Task Force established under subsection (a) shall consist of 12 members including— (A) the Secretary of Education; (B) the Secretary of Health and Human Services; (C) a representative of an association of school administration relating to middle school or high schools appointed by the Secretary of Education; (D) a representative of an association working for childhood mental health appointed by the Secretary of Education; (E) one school counselor or educator from each United States region, including— (i) the Northeastern region (consisting of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey); (ii) the Midwestern region (consisting of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa); (iii) the Western region (consisting of Montana, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Idaho, Alaska, and Hawaii); and (iv) the Southern region (consisting of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia); and (F) one parent of a middle school student (from a public or private secondary school) from each region listed in subparagraphs (A) through (D) of paragraph (6). (2) Application process Each member of the Task Force described in subparagraphs (E) and (F) of paragraph (1) shall be selected through an annual application process determined by the Secretary of Education. (3) Prohibition on compensation Each member of the Task Force shall serve on the Task Force without pay. (4) Length of service Each member of the Task Force shall serve on the Task Force for 2 calendar years. (c) Chairperson The Chairperson of the Task Force shall be elected by a majority vote of the members of the Commission. The term of office of the Chairperson may not exceed 2 years. (d) Meetings (1) In general The Task Force shall meet twice a year at the call of the Chairperson or the majority of the members of the Task Force. (2) Quorum Three-fourths of the members of the Task Force shall constitute a quorum but a lesser number may hold hearings. (e) Prohibition on additional personnel The Task Force shall not be entitled to appoint additional personnel. (f) No subpoena power The Task Force may not issue subpoenas. (g) Experts The Task Force may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates for individuals not to exceed the annual rate of basic pay for GS–10 of the General Schedule. (h) Contract authority To the extent or in the amounts provided in advance in appropriation Acts, the Task Force may contract with and compensate government and private agencies or persons for certain services relating to the work of the Task Force. (i) Study and annual report The Task Force shall— (1) study that resources (including online platforms, professional mental health services providers, community mental health providers, and any other tools or resources to address mental health) available to secondary school educators (including educators in the middle grades) and parents for helping a student who is experiencing mental health issues; and (2) submit to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, an annual report on the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1). (j) Definitions In this Act, the terms middle grades secondary school 20 U.S.C. 7801

Summary: Health Minds for a Better Future Act This bill establishes the Middle School Mental Health Task Force at the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services. The task force must study and report on the resources that are available to secondary school educators and parents for helping students who are experiencing mental health issues.