February 27, 2025
Mr. Allen introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to improve mental health services for students, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Expanding Student Access to Mental Health Services Act
.
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.