CS/CS/CS/HB 159 Summary

• Department of Children and Families shall establish a mental health first aid training program to help the public identify mental illness and substance use disorders and provide intervention skills.

• Department must use competitive procurement to select a statewide association for mental health or substance abuse awareness/treatment to develop, implement, and manage the program.

• Training program must cover mental illness overview and stigma reduction, risk factors and warning signs (depression, anxiety, psychosis, eating disorders, self-injury), and action plans for assessment and appropriate interventions; all instructors must have current national certification.

• Contractor shall prioritize training for K-20 education system staff, private school staff, and college/university staff, followed by first responders, with optional training for additional individuals; department must submit implementation report to Governor and Legislature by February 1, 2017.

• $300,000 in nonrecurring Federal Grants Trust Fund appropriated for fiscal year 2014-2015; program expires June 30, 2017; Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability must study existing mental health training programs and report findings by February 1, 2015.