House Bill 882: Behavioral Health Services for Students

• Permits public school units to allow licensed behavioral health providers to deliver adaptive behavior treatment and research-based behavioral health services to students on school property during instructional time upon parental request.

• Requires behavioral health providers to carry minimum liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate per occurrence, provide a certificate naming the school unit as certificate holder, and submit to criminal history background checks.

• Mandates schools are not responsible for costs of behavioral health services and establishes that such services must not prevent classroom instruction or supersede existing IEP plans, 504 plans, or other medical services.

• Prohibits public school units from entering exclusive contracts with behavioral health providers or preventing parents from choosing their preferred provider.

• Amends insurance coverage requirements to prevent denial of autism spectrum disorder treatment benefits based on the services being habilitative, educational, or provided in a school setting, effective October 1, 2021.