SB 476 – School Based Mental Health

Primary Sponsors: Sen. Rick Horner (R-Nash), Sen. Jerry Tillman (R-Randolph), Sen. Deanna Ballard (R-Watauga)

Summary

This bill would require the State Board of Education to adopt a school-based mental health plan that includes a mental health training program and a suicide risk referral protocol.

The model would address the following topics:

  • Youth mental health
  • Suicide prevention
  • Substance abuse
  • Sexual abuse prevention
  • Sex trafficking prevention
  • Teenage dating violence

The referral protocol would provide the following:

  • Guidelines on the identification of students at risk of suicide
  • Procedures and referral resources that address actions that should be taken to address student needs

The bill would also require every k-12 school to adopt a plan for promoting student mental health and well-being.

History

This bill was submitted to a conference committee on 5/20/20.

This conference report was adopted by the House and Senate on 5/27/20.

This bill was signed by the Governor on 6/8/2020.