[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 8, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4884-S4885]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 2171. Ms. HEITKAMP submitted an amendment intended to be proposed
to amendment SA 2089 submitted by Mr. Alexander (for himself and Mrs.
Murray) to the bill S. 1177, to reauthorize the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 to ensure that every child achieves;
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
On page 492, after line 22, insert the following:
SEC. 4006. GRANTS FOR THE INTEGRATION OF SCHOOLS AND MENTAL
HEALTH SYSTEMS.
Title IV (20 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.), as amended by sections
4001, 4004, and 4005, is further amended by adding at the end
the following:
``PART E--GRANTS TO IMPROVE THE MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN
``SEC. 4501. GRANTS FOR THE INTEGRATION OF SCHOOLS AND MENTAL
HEALTH SYSTEMS.
``(a) Authorization.--The Secretary is authorized to award
grants to, or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements
with, State educational agencies, local educational agencies,
Indian tribes or their tribal education agency, a school
operated by the Bureau of Indian Education, or a Regional
Corporation (as defined in section 3 of the Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602)) for the purpose of
increasing student access to quality mental health care and
support by developing innovative programs to link local
school systems with local mental health systems, such as
those under the Indian Health Service.
``(b) Duration.--With respect to a grant, contract, or
cooperative agreement awarded or entered into under this
section, the period during which payments under such grant,
contract or agreement are made to the recipient may not
exceed 5 years.
``(c) Use of Funds.--An entity that receives a grant,
contract, or cooperative agreement under this section shall
use amounts made available through such grant, contract, or
cooperative agreement for the following:
``(1) To enhance, improve, or develop collaborative efforts
between school-based service systems and mental health
service systems to provide, enhance, or improve prevention,
diagnosis, and treatment services to students.
``(2) To enhance the availability of crisis intervention
services and conflict resolution practices, such as those
focused on decreasing rates of bullying, teen dating
violence, suicide, trauma, and human trafficking (defined as
an act or practice described in paragraph (9) or (10) of
section 103 of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000
(22 U.S.C. 7102)), as well as provide appropriate referrals
for students potentially in need of mental health services,
and ongoing mental health services.
``(3) To provide training and professional development for
the school personnel and mental health professionals who will
participate in the program carried out under this section.
``(4) To provide technical assistance and consultation to
school systems and mental health agencies as well as to
families participating in the program carried out under this
section.
``(5) To provide linguistically appropriate and culturally
competent services.
``(6) To evaluate the effectiveness of the program carried
out under this section in increasing student access to
quality mental health services, and make recommendations to
the Secretary about the sustainability of the program.
``(7) To engage and utilize expertise provided by
institutions of higher education, such as a Tribal College or
University, as defined in section 316(b) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965.
``(d) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant,
contract, or cooperative agreement under this section, an
entity described in subsection (a) shall submit an
application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner,
and containing such information as the Secretary may
reasonably require, such as the following:
``(1) A description of the program to be funded under the
grant, contract, or cooperative agreement.
``(2) A description of how such program will increase
access to quality mental health services for students.
``(3) A description of how the applicant will establish a
crisis intervention program or conflict resolution practices,
or both, that provide immediate mental health services to the
school community as necessary.
``(4) An assurance that--
``(A) persons providing services under the grant, contract,
or cooperative agreement are adequately trained to provide
such services;
``(B) the services will be provided in accordance with
subsection (c);
``(C) teachers, administrators, parents or guardians,
representatives of local Indian tribes, and other school
personnel are aware of the program; and
``(D) parents or guardians of students participating in
services under this section will be engaged and involved in
the design and implementation of the services.
``(5) An assurance that the applicant will support and
integrate existing school-based services with the program in
order to provide appropriate mental health services for
students.
``(6) An assurance that the applicant will establish a
program that will support students and the school in
improving the school climate in order to support an
environment conducive to learning.
``(e) Interagency Agreements.--
``(1) Designation of lead agency.--A recipient of a grant,
contract, or cooperative agreement under this section shall
designate a lead agency to direct the establishment of an
interagency agreement among local educational agencies,
juvenile justice authorities, mental health agencies, and
other relevant entities in the State, in collaboration with
local entities, such as Indian tribes.
``(2) Contents.--The interagency agreement shall ensure the
provision of the services described in subsection (c),
specifying with respect to each agency, authority, or
entity--
``(A) the financial responsibility for the services;
``(B) the conditions and terms of responsibility for the
services, including quality, accountability, and coordination
of the services; and
``(C) the conditions and terms of reimbursement among the
agencies, authorities, or entities that are parties to the
interagency agreement, including procedures for dispute
resolution.
``(f) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall evaluate each
program carried out under this section and shall disseminate
the findings with respect to each such evaluation to
appropriate public, tribal, and private entities.
``(g) Distribution of Awards.--The Secretary shall ensure
that grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements awarded or
entered into under this section are equitably distributed
among the geographical regions of the United States and among
tribal, urban, suburban, and rural populations.
``(h) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall
be construed--
``(1) to prohibit an entity involved with a program carried
out under this section from reporting a crime that is
committed by a student to appropriate authorities; or
``(2) to prevent State and tribal law enforcement and
judicial authorities from exercising their responsibilities
with regard to the application of Federal, tribal, and State
law to crimes committed by a student.
``(i) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Any services provided
through programs carried out under this section shall
supplement, and not supplant, existing mental health
services, including any services required to be provided
under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
``(j) Consultation With Indian Tribes.--In carrying out
subsection (a), the Secretary shall, in a timely manner,
meaningfully consult, engage, and cooperate with Indian
[[Page S4885]]
tribes and their representatives to ensure notice of
eligibility.
``(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section such
sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2016 through
2021.''.
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