OH HB532

State Board of Education must adopt standards for mental health education in grades pre-K through 12 within one year of the bill's effective date, covering mental well-being, depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse, bullying and harassment, trauma, and suicide.

School districts and schools may voluntarily utilize any or all of the mental health education standards adopted by the state board.

Health instruction may include mental health topics, making such instruction optional rather than mandatory for school districts.

Exempts mental health education standards from the requirement that the General Assembly approve health standards through concurrent resolution.

Appropriates $150,000 in fiscal year 2020 to the Department of Education to develop mental health standards and $150,000 for noncompetitive grants to school districts for implementation and professional development.