Resolve, To Direct the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services To Require the Teaching of Mental Health Awareness in Middle Schools Based on a National Curriculum
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0098
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: HASKELL, NUTTING, HlLL, LOVEJOY, PRIEST, STUCKEY, ALFOND, BRANNIGAN

FIRST RRGUJ JAR SRSSION-2009 
Legislative Document 
No. 98 
H.P.82 
House of Representatives, January 12, 2009 
Resolve, To Direct the Department of Education and the 
Department of Health and Human Services To Require the 
Teaching of Mental Health Awareness in Middle Schools Based on a 
National Curriculum 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
prin~d. 
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Presented by Representative HASKELL of Portland. 
Cosponsored by Senator NUTTING of Androscoggin and 
71/~ACI: /I1·IllILC;:fdw~{ 
MlLLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: HlLL of York, LOVEJOY of Portland, PRIEST of Brunswick, STUCKEY of 
Portland, Senators: ALFOND of Cumberland, BRANNIGAN of Cumberland. 
Print~..J .. 'II n:~y..:lt:d PJPl."r 
Sec. 1. 
Convening of a team to develop a plan for implementing a 
curriculum on mental health awareness in middle schools. Resolved: That the 
Commissioner of Education and the Commissioner of Health and Human Services shall 
convene a planning team, refert'edto in' this resolve as "the planning team," to develop a 
plan for implementing a curriculum that teaches mental health awareness in middle 
schools. The planning team must include departmental personnel, middle school teachers 
and school administrators with expeliise in curriculum design, representatives of agencies 
with expertise in the treatment of mental illness or mental health promotion and interested 
parties. The planning team may seek assistance from outside the team membership in 
addressing its charge and meeting its responsibilities. 
1. First meeting; staff support. The commissioners shall convene the first meeting 
of the planning team no later than 30 days after the effective date of this resolve. The 
commissioners shall provide staff and technical assistance to the planning team within 
existing departmental resources. 
2. Duties. The planning team shall develop a plan for implementing a curriculum 
that teaches mental health awareness in middle schools, including a timeline for 
implementing its recommended plan with clear benchmarks for phasing in the plan by the 
beginning of the 2010-2011 school,year; The planning team shall examine "The Science 
of Mental Illness: 
National Institutes of Health Curriculum Supplement for Middle 
School," the curriculum supplement from the National Institutes of Health's Office of 
Science Education and the National Institute of Mental Health, and other relevant 
curricula for teaching mental health awareness for middle school students that address the. 
biological, psychological and environmental aspects of mental illnesses and how 
scientific evidence and research can help in understanding the causes and treatments of 
mental illnesses. The planning team shall review the standards related to the middle 
school grades for the content area of health, physical education and wellness in the 
system of learning results established pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, 
section 6209. The planning team shall explore federal and private funding available to 
supplement state resources to implement its plan to teach mental health awareness in 
middle schools. 
3. Report. The planning team shall report to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters no later than December 31, 2009. 
The report must present the plan recommended by the planning team and a detailed 
timeline for implementing the plan; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Legislation authorized. Resolved: That the joint standing committee 
of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters may submit a bill to the 
developed pursuant to this resolve to teach mental health awareness in middle schools. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve directs the Commissioner of Education and the Commissioner of Health 
and Human Services to convene a planning team to develop a plan to teach mental health 
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awareness in middle schools by the 2010-2011 school year. It requires that the planning 
team repOli to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
education matters no later than December 31, 2009. It authorizes the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters to submit a bill to 
the Second Regu lar Session of the 124th Legislature.