House Bill 1227

AN ACT TO CREATE THE MENTAL AWARENESS PROGRAM FOR SCHOOLS; TO AMEND SECTION 37-3-89, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE MENTAL AWARENESS AND TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACHES IN EDUCATOR PREPARATION PROGRAMS; TO DEFINE TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACHES; TO AMEND SECTION 37-9-79, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PROVIDE THAT PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS SHALL HAVE AT LEAST ONE SCHOOL COUNSELOR OR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDER PER 250 STUDENTS; TO AUTHORIZE UNDERFUNDED AND UNDERSTAFFED SCHOOLS TO EMPLOY ONE SCHOOL COUNSELOR TO SERVICE ALL THE SCHOOLS IN THE EMPLOYING SCHOOL DISTRICT; TO PROVIDE FOR THE DISTRIBUTION OF TIME AND DUTIES WITHIN SUCH DISTRICTS; TO REQUIRE SCHOOL COUNSELORS OR SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES PROVIDERS TO CREATE A TRAUMA-INFORMED TEAM FOR EACH SCHOOL; TO REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOLS TO REPORT THE NUMBER AND PLACEMENT OF SCHOOL COUNSELORS IN THE DISTRICT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; TO AUTHORIZE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ENTER INTO A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT WITH A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SOCIAL WORK CONSORTIUM AND CERTAIN STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING TO PLACE MASTER'S LEVEL GRADUATE STUDENTS INTO SCHOOLS AS SCHOOL COUNSELORS UNDER A SUPERVISED INTERNSHIP PROGRAM; TO CREATE NEW SECTION 37-9-80, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH REQUIRES THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, TO CREATE A TOOLKIT TO ASSIST SCHOOLS IN IMPLEMENTING TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACHES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the House of Representatives

• Angela Cockerham

  Sponsor

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the House of Representatives Jan 16 – Feb 9

1. Jan 16Referred to the House committee on Education
2. Jan 31Reported from committee in the House: title sufficient, do pass
3. Feb 9Passed the House

In the Senate Feb 10 – Feb 28

1. Feb 10Sent to the Senate
2. Feb 14Referred to the Senate committee on Education
3. Feb 28Died in committee in the Senate