Representative Christine Hunschofsky (D-Parkland) and Senator Gayle Harrell (R-Stuart) filed House Bill 899 and Senate Bill 1240: Mental Health of Students, updating school services to ensure that whole families are made aware of available mental health services, not just the student.
Current law provides for school-based and community-based mental health resources to be made available to our students. This legislation will expand upon that by providing information about web-based directories or guides for local behavioral health services to the students’ parents and household members. This will help both the student and their family get the care they need.
“Too often, there is a lack of continuity of care. While mental health care is available to students in our schools, their caregivers are not given information for their siblings or even themselves. It is time that the caregiver is made aware of available services so the whole family knows what is available in the area,” said Representative Hunschofsky.
Senator Harrell stated: “I am pleased to continue our work to assure that mental health services are available to students who need them. It is very important that both parents and students have the information necessary to get the services they need.”
Stand with Parkland President Tony Montalto said: “This bill is good for Florida. Representative Hunschofsky and Senator Harrell have been champions of programs that improve mental health care in our state. The Bill Name is a compilation of recommendations from the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission, which was formed to investigate the events and cause of the 2018 Parkland school massacre. We hope this bill will enjoy the bipartisan support it deserves, and once enacted, Florida’s citizens will be safer, and those who need help will have more information on how to access it.”
