Improving Mental Health and Wellness in Schools Act
Bill: H.R.5526 | Sponsor: Rep. Manning, Kathy E. (D-NC)
Policy area: Agriculture and Food

Summary:
Improving Mental Health and Wellness in Schools Act
This bill requires local educational agencies (LEAs) participating in the school lunch or breakfast programs to include in their local school wellness policies (1) goals for mental health promotion and education, and (2) nutrition guidelines for reducing childhood eating disorders. Such LEAs must also include registered dietitians and school-based mental health services providers in the development, implementation, and periodic review of such policies.
The bill also requires the Department of Agriculture to provide information and technical assistance to school health professionals (including school-based mental health services providers) for use in establishing healthy school environments. Such technical assistance must promote mental health, encourage mental health assessments, and establish resilient school environments.

To amend the Richard B. Russell School Lunch Act to increase access to 
            mental health resources, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Mental Health and Wellness 
in Schools Act''.

SEC. 2. LOCAL SCHOOL WELLNESS POLICY RESOURCES.

    Section 9A of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 
U.S.C. 1758b) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting after ``physical 
                activity,'' the following: ``mental health promotion 
                and education,'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting before the 
                semicolon at the end the following: ``and eating 
                disorders''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (3), by inserting after ``school 
                administrators,'' the following: ``registered 
                dietitians, school-based mental health services 
                providers,'';
            (2) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by inserting after ``in consultation 
                        with'' the following: ``the Administrator of 
                        the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
                        Administration,'';
                            (ii) by inserting a comma after ``Secretary 
                        of Education''; and
                            (iii) by inserting after ``school food 
                        authorities'' the following: ``, school health 
                        professionals (including school-based mental 
                        health services providers when available)'';
                    (B) by striking paragraph (2)(C), and inserting the 
                following new subparagraph:
                    ``(C) includes such other technical assistance as 
                is required to promote--
                            ``(i) sound nutrition and establish healthy 
                        school nutrition environments; and
                            ``(ii) mental health, encourage mental 
                        health assessments, and establish resilient 
                        school environments; and''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting after 
                        ``Centers for Disease Control and Prevention'' 
                        the following: ``and the Administrator of the 
                        Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
                        Administration'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
                        ``2014'' and inserting ``2026''; and
                            (iii) in subparagraph (D)--
                                    (I) by striking ``$3,000,000'' and 
                                inserting ``$5,000,000''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``2011'' and 
                                inserting ``2023''.
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