H.B. 713 Summary

• Requires each city, local, and exempted village school district to employ at least one school psychologist and one intervention specialist, with additional staff required for districts exceeding 1,000 students (one additional psychologist and specialist per 600 students or part thereof).

• Establishes state payments to school districts equal to the statewide average salary for each employed school psychologist or intervention specialist under section 3317.26.

• Mandates development of age-appropriate annual mental health screening assessments by the Department of Education in collaboration with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, with schools required to develop intervention programs within seven school days of assessment data collection.

• Requires all school personnel (nurses, teachers, counselors, psychologists, administrators) to complete in-service training on social-emotional development and trauma-informed care, with schools also required to approve tiered support programs addressing trauma, mental health awareness, and crisis intervention.

• Applies mental health and related compliance requirements to community schools, STEM schools, and nonpublic schools through amended sections 3314.03 and 3326.11.