SB 80-PUBLIC SCHOOLS: MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION  9:21:10 AM CHAIR HOLLAND announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 80 "An Act relating to mental health education." He noted the proposed committee substitute (CS) and solicited a motion. 9:21:24 AM SENATOR HUGHES moved to adopt the work draft CS for SB 80, work order 32-LS0514\B, as the working document. 9:21:38 AM CHAIR HOLLAND objected for purposes of discussion. 9:21:46 AM ED KING, Staff, Senator Roger Holland, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, stated that committee members recommended the changes that appear in version B. during the last hearing. He reviewed the following changes from version A to version B for SB 80: Change #1: Within the intent language of section 1, the list of mental health organizations is replaced with a more general reference. • Page 1, Lines 5-10 of version A, are amended to read: LEGISLATIVE INTENT. It is the intent of the legislature that the Board of Education and Early Development develop guidelines for instruction in mental health in consultation with the department of  Health and Social Services, regional tribal health  organizations, and representatives of national and  state mental health organizations. [REPRESENTATIVES OF MENTAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS AND REGIONAL TRIBAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, PROVIDENCE HEALTH AND SERVICES ALASKA, THE SOUTHCENTRAL FOUNDATION, ANCHORAGE COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, INC., THE NORTH STAR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEM, AND THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS ALASKA.] Change #2:  Within AS 14.30.360(b), section 3 of the bill, the added language was adjusted for clarity and consistency with the intent language, and to address the concern of developmentally appropriate curriculum. • On page 2, line 7 of version A, the phrase "Health guidelines must provide standards for instruction in mental health" is changed to "Guidelines for instruction in mental health" to match the intent language. The words "developmentally appropriate" are also inserted. • On page 2, line 9 of version A, the words "regional tribal health organizations" are inserted to match the intent language. SENATOR BEGICH said the bulk of the suggestions were made by staff to the Mental Health Board, the Suicide Prevention Council, and the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Council because they are more consistent with current policy. 9:23:18 AM CHAIR HOLLAND removed his objection. There being no further objection, version B was adopted. SENATOR HUGHES observed that the bill now states that the Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) will be consulted to ensure curriculum is developmentally appropriate. The Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) is also involved in providing technical assistance. She expressed hope that DEED will be involved with technical assistance regarding what is developmentally appropriate, but she acknowledged that the way the language is written it falls on DHSS. She asked if anyone from DEED can speak to that. SENATOR BEGICH said fiscal note speaks to that in the last paragraph on page 2. It says, "Transition language provides the State Board of Education and Early Development two years to develop mental health guidelines." DEED is the primary mover, but will consult with DHSS. The consultation language was in the original bill as well. SENATOR HUGHES said that is in the intent language, but in Section 3, the guidelines are with DHSS. She is confident that they will work together, but there is some disconnect because one is intent language and the other says DHSS will establish guidelines. MR. KING said that in Section 3 of the bill, the first sentence of that refers to the state board of DEED that will work in consultation with DHSS and the other organizations. The transition language states that the DEED state board shall develop the mental health guidelines, so in the bill it does fall on DEED. SENATOR HUGHES said that is helpful and reassuring. It is good to get the discussion on the record so that it is clear that the committee is expressing the importance of both departments being involved. 9:27:43 AM CHAIR HOLLAND solicited a motion. 9:27:50 AM SENATOR HUGHES moved to report the proposed committee substitute (CS) for SB 10, work order 32-LS0514\B from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). CHAIR HOLLAND found no objection and CSSB 10 (EDC) was reported from the Senate Education Standing Committee.