00                      CS FOR SENATE BILL NO. 80(EDC)                                                                    
01 "An Act relating to mental health education."                                                                           
02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
03    * Section 1. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section                          
04 to read:                                                                                                                
05 LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the legislature that the Board of Education                                     
06 and Early Development develop guidelines for instruction in mental health in consultation                               
07 with the Department of Health and Social Services, regional tribal health organizations, and                            
08 representatives of national and state mental health organizations.                                                      
09    * Sec. 2. AS 14.30.360(a) is amended to read:                                                                      
10 (a)  Each district in the state public school system shall be encouraged to                                             
11 initiate and conduct a program in health education for kindergarten through grade 12.                                   
12 The program should include instruction in [PHYSICAL] health and personal safety                                         
13 including alcohol and drug abuse education, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR),                                        
14 early cancer prevention and detection, dental health, family health including infant                                    
15 care, environmental health, mental health, the identification and prevention of child                               

01 abuse, child abduction, neglect, sexual abuse, and domestic violence, and appropriate                                   
02       use of health services.                                                                                           
03    * Sec. 3. AS 14.30.360(b) is amended to read:                                                                      
04 (b)  The state board shall establish guidelines for a health and personal safety                                        
05 education program. Guidelines for developmentally appropriate instruction in                                        
06 mental health shall be developed in consultation with the Department of Health                                      
07 and Social Services, regional tribal health organizations, and representatives of                                   
08 national and state mental health organizations. Personal safety guidelines shall be                                 
09 developed in consultation with the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault.                                     
10 Upon request, the Department of Education and Early Development, the Department                                         
11 of Health and Social Services, and the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual                                          
12 Assault shall provide technical assistance to school districts in the development of                                    
13 personal safety curricula. A school health education specialist position shall be                                       
14 established and funded in the department to coordinate the program statewide.                                           
15 Adequate funds to enable curriculum and resource development, adequate consultation                                     
16 to school districts, and a program of teacher training in health and personal safety                                    
17       education shall be provided.                                                                                      
18    * Sec. 4. The uncodified law of the State of Alaska is amended by adding a new section to                          
19 read:                                                                                                                   
20 TRANSITION. The state Board of Education and Early Development shall develop                                            
21 the mental health guidelines required by AS 14.30.360(b), as amended by sec. 3 of this Act,                             
22 within two years after the effective date of this Act.