Improving Mental Health and Wellness in Schools Act

Bill: 118-s-754
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN]
Introduced: 2023-03-09
Policy area: Agriculture and Food
Latest action: action_date: 2023-03-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-03-09
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Improving Mental Health and Wellness in Schools Act</strong></p> <p>This bill incorporates mental health promotion and education into guidelines for school wellness policies that are used by local educational agencies participating in school meal programs. </p> <p>Specifically, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) must issue further regulations for local educational agencies to (1) incorporate goals for mental health promotion and education, and (2) include reducing eating disorders as part of the nutrition guidelines for foods available on school campuses.</p> <p>The bill also requires that local educational agencies establish multidisciplinary teams of school personnel to lead the development, periodic  review, and updating of local school wellness policies. Further, the bill requires the involvement of registered dietitians and school-based mental health services providers (in addition to those already required to be involved) in the periodic review and updating of the local policy. </p> <p> USDA must also provide technical assistance to promote mental health, encourage mental health assessments, and establish resilient school environments.</p>

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 754 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES March 9, 2023 Ms. Klobuchar (for herself and Ms. Lummis ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry A BILL To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to modify requirements for local school wellness policies.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Improving Mental Health and Wellness in Schools Act . 2. Local school wellness policy 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 mental health promotion and education, after physical activity, ; (B) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking obesity; and inserting obesity and eating disorders; ; (C) in paragraph (3)— (i) by striking agency permit and inserting the following: “agency— (A) permit ; (ii) in subparagraph (A) (as so designated)— (I) by inserting registered dietitians, school-based mental health services providers, after school administrators, ; and (II) by adding and after the semicolon at the end; and (iii) by adding at the end the following: (B) establish a multidisciplinary team of school personnel to lead the development, implementation, and periodic review and updating of the local school wellness policy; ; and (D) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking 1 and inserting 2 ; and (2) in subsection (d)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) by inserting in consultation with the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, after Prevention, ; and (ii) by inserting school-based mental health services providers (when available), after school food authorities, ; (B) in paragraph (2)(C)— (i) by striking required to promote and inserting the following: “required— (i) to promote ; and (ii) by adding at the end the following: (ii) to promote mental health, encourage mental health assessments, and establish resilient school environments; and ; and (C) in paragraph (3)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking Prevention, and inserting Prevention and the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, ; (ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 2014, and inserting 2026, ; and (iii) by striking subparagraph (D).