SB 265-FN-A - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2023 SESSION

23-1028

05/10

 

SENATE BILL 265-FN-A

 

AN ACT making an appropriation for the multi-tiered system of support for children's mental health.

 

SPONSORS: Sen. Whitley, Dist 15; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Chandley, Dist 11; Sen. Fenton, Dist 10; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Sen. Rosenwald, Dist 13; Sen. Soucy, Dist 18; Sen. Watters, Dist 4; Rep. Myler, Merr. 9; Rep. Luneau, Merr. 9

 

COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill makes an appropriation to the department of education for the multi-tiered system of support for children's mental health.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

23-1028

05/10

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three

 

AN ACT making an appropriation for the multi-tiered system of support for children's mental health.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  Findings Statement.  The general court recognizes that the ongoing mental health, substance misuse, and child protection crises have taken a significant toll on New Hampshire’s children, families, and taxpayers and New Hampshire schools are challenged daily to support the behavioral health needs of students while promoting academic achievement for all students.  In response, the New Hampshire department of education’s office of social and emotional wellness has supported approximately 37 New Hampshire school districts in implementing an evidenced-based prevention framework to support the behavioral health and wellness of all students, called multi-tiered system of supports for behavioral health and wellness, or MTSS-B.  MTSS-B is a key component of the system of care established under RSA 135-F.  The MTSS-B framework prioritizes collaboration between schools and community mental health agencies to coordinate systems and train providers to deliver high-fidelity, evidence-based interventions on school grounds.  Notably, MTSS-B ensures that any mental health counseling is provided by trained professionals.  Coordination of these services and resources through an approach such as MTSS-B increases the likelihood of effectively addressing student and family needs and supporting their overall success.  Furthermore, the MTSS-B framework has been shown to reduce student problem behavior and discipline events, enhance school climate, improve school and family partnerships, improve attendance, and improve academic achievement.  For example, in the Laconia school district, student problem behaviors plummeted 74 percent at the high school level after implementing the MTSS-B framework.  As a result of decreased disciplinary referrals, students gained over 9,200 hours of instructional time across the school district.  Funding the MTSS-B framework statewide is imperative to continue to develop an effective system of care and support New Hampshire’s children and families.

2  Appropriation; Department of Education; Children's Mental Health; MTSS-B Framework.

I.  The sum of $1,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and the sum of $ 1,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, is hereby appropriated to the department of education to enter into the contracts required to continue to perform the statutory duties as described under RSA 135-F:5.

II.  In addition, the sum of $1,061,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and the sum of $1,077,000 for the fiscal year ending June 2025, is appropriated to the department to education for the purpose of funding the following positions: one program assistant II; one education consultant I; 6 program specialists IV; and one administrator II.

III.  Of these amounts, the governor shall determine if any remaining discretionary funds appropriated in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Public Law 117-2 or any other federal funds can be used for this purpose and any remainder shall be general funds.  The governor is authorized to draw a warrant for the general fund share of said sums out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated.

3  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.

 

LBA

23-1028

Revised 1/26/23

 

SB 265-FN-A- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT making an appropriation for the multi-tiered system of support for children's mental health.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [    ] County               [    ] Local              [    ] None

 

 

 

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2023

FY 2024

FY 2025

FY 2026

   Appropriation

$0

$2,161,000

$2,077,000

$0

   Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Expenditures

$0

$2,161,000

$2,077,000

$1,103,000

Funding Source:

  [ X ] General            [    ] Education            [    ] Highway           [ X ] Other - Discretionary ARPA Funds

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill makes appropriations to the Department of Education of $1,000,000 in each FY 2024 and FY 2025 to enter into contracts required to perform the statutory duties as described under RSA 135-F:5, and $1,061,000 in FY 2024 and $1,077,000 in FY 2025 to fund nine (9) positions. The bill states the appropriation would come first from available discretionary funds appropriated in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), with remainder covered by the general funds. It is unknown at this time if there are available ARPA funds for this purpose.

 

 

FY 2024

FY 2025

FY 2026

MTSS-B Services Through Providers

$1,000,000

$1,000,000

$0

Nine (9) Department of Education Positions*
One (1) Program Assistant II (LG 15, Step 6)
One (1) Education Consultant I (LG 25, Step 6)
Six (6) Program Specialist IV (LG 25, Step 6)
One (1) Administrator II (LG 29, Step 3)

$1,061,000

$1,077,000

$1,103,000

TOTAL

$2,061,000

$2,077,000

$1,103,000

* Assumes start dates of July 1, 2023

 

The Department of Education adds that currently this activity is funded using several different federal grants, which generally run for three to five years, and when the grants are expiring, the Department has traditionally sought additional federal grants to continue this work, which so far has been successful. The Department states by funding these activities with state funds, it would no longer be able to seek federal funding opportunities as they would then supplant the provided state funds.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Education