MS SB2508

Establishes the "Student 24/7 Teletherapy Pilot Project" within the State Department of Education to provide grant funding to school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools for teletherapy services to students in grades 5-12, with intended coverage for over 215,000 youth statewide.

Funding comes from the Education Enhancement Fund, with the Department authorized to use up to 10% of appropriated funds for program administration, grant application development, vendor oversight, and data collection.

Vendors must have at least 10 years of telehealth experience, currently serve no fewer than 50,000 students in educational settings, and employ licensed clinicians vetted for student mental health experience.

Required platform features include 24/7 access with on-demand appointments, barrier-free services at no cost to students without insurance or referral requirements, multiple communication options (video, phone, chat, messaging), and real-time data analytics with HIPAA and FERPA compliance.

The State Department of Education must submit a report to the Legislature by October 1, 2027, detailing participation rates, usage data, and student outcomes from the pilot project's first year.