HB 6509 Summary

• Defines "school-based mental health clinic" as a clinic located in or on school grounds, organized through school and health provider partnerships, administered by a sponsoring facility, and providing on-site mental, emotional, or behavioral health services to children and adolescents.

• Prohibits any person or entity from using the term "school-based health center" or similar terminology unless the facility meets the statutory definition, protecting the integrity of the term.

• Authorizes the Department of Public Health to adopt regulations establishing minimum quality standards for school-based health centers and school-based mental health clinics.

• Requires the Department of Public Health to develop a plan by January 1, 2022, in consultation with the Connecticut Association of School-based Health Centers, to establish mental health clinics in regions lacking access to existing school-based health centers or expanded school health sites.

• Permits school-based mental health clinics to provide counseling to individual students, groups, or families; extend hours to include after-school, weekend, or summer operations; and offer age-appropriate mental health prevention programming in partnership with local boards of education.