Youth Mental Health Services Act of 2021
Bill: S.1390 | Sponsor: Sen. Kennedy, John (R-LA)
Policy area: Education

Summary:
Youth Mental Health Services Act of 2021
This bill authorizes state and local educational agencies to use Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants to improve mental health services available to students. Specifically, it allows funds to be used for identifying and disseminating best practices for mental health first aid, emergency planning, coordination of services, and telehealth services.

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to improve 
      mental health services for students, 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 ``Youth Mental Health Services Act of 
2021''.

SEC. 2. SUPPORTING MENTAL HEALTH.

    (a) State Use of Funds.--Section 4104(b)(3)(B) of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7114(b)(3)(B)) is 
amended--
            (1) in clause (iii), by striking ``and'' at the end; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(v) improving the mental health services 
                        available to students, which may include--
                                    ``(I) identifying and disseminating 
                                best practices for mental health first 
                                aid;
                                    ``(II) assisting in the 
                                establishment or implementation of 
                                emergency planning, which may include 
                                emergency response teams to address 
                                emergencies at schools;
                                    ``(III) establishing or identifying 
                                agreements with local health agencies, 
                                including nonprofit, public, and 
                                private mental health agencies and 
                                institutions, to improve coordination 
                                of services; and
                                    ``(IV) telehealth services; and''.
    (b) Local Educational Agency Applications.--Section 4106(e)(1) of 
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
7116(e)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (F); 
        and
            (3) by inserting after subparagraph (D), the following:
                    ``(E) if applicable, how funds will be used for 
                activities related to providing mental health services 
                under section 4108; and''.
    (c) Activities To Support the Effective Use of Technology.--Section 
4109 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
7119) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the 
                end and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) providing technology to improve mental health 
        services.''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``A local'' and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(1) In general.--A local''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Exception.--The limitation described in paragraph (1) 
        shall not apply to technology infrastructure that is also used 
        for mental health services.''.
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