AL SB296

Requires the Department of Mental Health, in consultation with the State Department of Education, to develop a mental health first aid training program by the 2018-2019 school year for public school educators to identify and assist students experiencing mental health crises.

Training must cover a five-step crisis intervention strategy, risk factors and warning signs for mental illness and substance abuse, characteristics of prevalent mental or emotional disorders in children, intervention strategies including de-escalation techniques, parent notification procedures, and evidence-based treatment strategies.

State Department of Education shall promulgate rules requiring public school educators to obtain up to 12 hours of mental health first aid training.

State Department of Education must provide the Legislature an annual report by February 1 listing all public school educators who completed mental health first aid training during the preceding calendar year.

Legislature shall appropriate necessary funds to the State Department of Education to contract with the Department of Mental Health or approved trainers to implement the mental health first aid training program for educators.