HOUSE BILL NO. 5667

March 17, 2020, Introduced by Reps. Koleszar, Rabhi, Brenda Carter, Haadsma, Guerra, Bolden, Cynthia Johnson, Stone, Clemente, Pohutsky, Kennedy, Shannon, Sneller, Camilleri, Hope, Sowerby, Manoogian, Vaupel, Peterson, Tyrone Carter, Howell, Hood, Brixie, Anthony, Yaroch and Gay-Dagnogo and referred to the Committee on Education.

A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled

"The revised school code,"

(MCL 380.1 to 380.1852) by adding section 1526b.

the people of the state of michigan enact:

Sec. 1526b. (1) Not later than 1 year after the effective date of the amendatory act that added this section, the department, in conjunction with the department of health and human services, shall develop or adopt a professional development course for teachers on mental health first aid.

(2) The professional development course developed or adopted under subsection (1) must include, at a minimum, instruction on all of the following:

(a) Identifying potential risk factors and warning signs for mental illnesses, including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, trauma, psychosis, eating disorders, substance use disorders, and self-injury.

(b) Strategies for helping an individual experiencing a mental health crisis, including, but not limited to, assessing risk, listening respectfully, supporting the individual, and identifying professional help and other resources for the individual.

(c) Techniques for approaching an individual who is potentially experiencing a mental health crisis.

(3) The professional development course developed or adopted under subsection (1) may be counted toward the professional development required under section 1527.

Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days after the date it is enacted into law.