Florida Association of Managing Entities CEO Natalie K. Kelly today issued the following statement after the Florida Senate approved Senate Bill 590, sponsored by Senator Gayle Harrell, and the House of Representatives approved House Bill 7035, sponsored by Reps. Chip LaMarca and Christine Hunschofsky. These bills strengthen school mental health response efforts to children in crisis by allowing school districts to contract with the Managing Entities to provide behavioral health care services to students.
“This legislation will help improve coordinated systems of care for children in crisis and expand access to on-demand crisis intervention and counseling services in schools through mobile response teams and telehealth services. These bills will also help children and their families connect to behavioral health care resources and develop care coordination plans. We thank Representatives LaMarca and Hunschofsky, Senator Gayle Harrell, as well as the entire Senate and House of Representatives, for their outstanding leadership on these bills and for prioritizing children’s mental health and wellbeing. Also, special thanks to Rep. Vance Aloupis, Chair, House Early Learning & Elementary Education Subcommittee. We look forward to the final passage of a school safety bill and approval by Governor DeSantis.”
