An Act To Increase Youth Mental Health Awareness in Schools (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1866
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: HANDY, MAKER, DENNO, FARNSWORTH, GOLDEN, MADIGAN, PERRY, BELLOWS
Amends: 20-A MRSA §4502

Legislative Document
No. 1866
H.P. 1302
House of Representatives, March 20, 2018
An Act To Increase Youth Mental Health Awareness in Schools
(AFTER DEADLINE)
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205.
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative HANDY of Lewiston.
Cosponsored by Senator MAKER of Washington and
Representatives: DENNO of Cumberland, FARNSWORTH of Portland, GOLDEN of 
Lewiston, MADIGAN of Waterville, McCREA of Fort Fairfield, McCREIGHT of Harpswell, 
PERRY of Calais, Senator: BELLOWS of Kennebec.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §4502, sub-§5-D is enacted to read:
5-D.  Youth mental health awareness and training.  Beginning in the 2019-2020 
school year, at least 2 school personnel in each school within a school administrative unit 
and in each island, charter and public school that is not in a school administrative unit 
must be certified in youth mental health first aid.
A.  Additional trained school personnel above the minimum of 2 must receive the 
training if the number of students in the school administrative unit is above 1,000 as 
follows:
(1)  For 1,001 to 1,500 students, one additional school employee;
(2)  For 1,501 to 2,000 students, 2 additional school personnel;
(3)  For 2,001 to 2,500 students, 3 additional school personnel;
(4)  For 2,501 to 3,000 students, 4 additional school personnel;
(5)  For 3,001 to 3,500 students, 5 additional school personnel;
(6)  For 3,501 to 4,000 students, 6 additional school personnel;
(7)  For 4,001 to 4,500 students, 7 additional school personnel;
(8)  For 4,501 to 5,000 students, 8 additional school personnel;
(9)  For 5,001 to 5,500 students, 9 additional school personnel;
(10)  For 5,501 to 6,000 students, 10 additional school personnel;
(11)  For 6,001 to 6,500 students, 11 additional school personnel;
(12)  For 6,501 to 7,000 students, 12 additional school personnel;
(13)  For 7,001 to 7,500 students, 13 additional school personnel; and
(14)  For 7,501 or more students, 14 additional school personnel.
B.  Training received pursuant to this subsection must count toward satisfaction of 
professional development requirements for the department and credentialing 
requirements for teachers and other professional personnel under chapters 501 and 
502.
The department shall adopt rules to implement this subsection.  The rules must include, 
but are not limited to, implementation standards.  Rules adopted pursuant to this 
subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A.
Sec. 2.  Appropriations and allocations.  The following appropriations and 
allocations are made.
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
Mental Health Services - Children 0136
Initiative: Provides funds for the provision of youth mental health first aid training.
SUMMARY
This bill requires that, beginning in the 2019-2020 school year, at least 2 personnel in 
each school within a school administrative unit and in each island, charter and public 
school that is not in a school administrative unit must be certified in youth mental health 
first aid.
GENERAL FUND
2017-18
2018-19
All Other
$0
$100,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL
$0
$100,000