SB 17-068

Senate Bill 17-068, also known as "School Counselors Early Support For Students," expands a grant program that helps schools hire behavioral health professionals and school counselors. Originally, only middle, junior, and high schools could receive these grants, but the bill now includes elementary schools in this eligibility. This means more elementary schools can get funding to support students' mental health and well-being by hiring additional staff like counselors. The bill has been signed into law, so elementary schools are already eligible for these grants to help them provide better support for their students.

Official Summary

Under current law, a public school that includes any of grades 7 through 12 is eligible to receive a grant through the behavioral health care professional matching grant program. Sections 2 to 5 of the bill add elementary schools to the list of public schools eligible to receive a grant through the program. Under current law, a public middle, junior, or high school is eligible to receive a grant through the school counselor corps grant program. Sections 6 to 10 of the bill add elementary schools to the list of public schools eligible to receive a grant through the program.(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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