Montana LC 2809: Directing DPHHS and OPI to develop a plan to expand mental health education to all schools in the state

Bill Text

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69th Legislature 2025 LC 2809
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1 _____________ BILL NO. _____________
2 INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________
3
4 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND
5 HUMAN SERVICES AND THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO EXPAND
6 MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION INTO ALL SCHOOLS IN THE STATE; PROVIDING MINIMUM
7 REQUIREMENTS IN THE PROGRAM PLAN; REQUIRING INTERIM REPORTS; AND PROVIDING AN
8 IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE.”
9
10 WHEREAS, the PAX Good Behavior Game curriculum has a 30-year track record in Montana,
11 demonstrating measurable and significant benefits to school-age students in reducing anxiety, lowering
12 violence and substance abuse, improving civic engagement and leadership, and preparing Montana students
13 for challenges and for opportunities for personal and professional development; and
14 WHEREAS, the PAX Good Behavior Game serves as a preventative health care initiative capable of
15 reducing future demand for state mental health services; and
16 WHEREAS, promoting mental well-being and reducing substance use disorder in our communities
17 reduces crime and violence and the subsequent state expense to adjudicate and house those criminal
18 elements; and
19 WHEREAS, expanding the PAX Good Behavior Game promotes civic engagement and establishes a
20 path to prevention and wellness that alleviates the state's burdened health care and criminal justice systems.
21
22 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
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24 NEW SECTION. Section 1. Direction to department of public health and human services and
25 office of public instruction. (1) The department of public health and human services in collaboration with the
26 office of public instruction shall develop a plan to expand the suicide prevention grants provided for in 53-21-
27 1111 into a universal program available in all public schools in the state. The program plan must include:
28 (a) program curriculum;
(Primary Sponsor)

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69th Legislature 2025 LC 2809
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1 (b) how the program will:
2 (i) provide financial and technical support to schools;
3 (ii) collect data;
4 (iii) measure program success;
5 (iv) target specific areas of mental health, including bullying, suicide, and substance use; and
6 (v) leverage the classroom experience of teachers;
7 (c) estimated cost projections;
8 (d) a plan for implementation of the program;
9 (e) requested support from the legislature to implement the program, through legislation,
10 appropriation, or other legislative action; and
11 (f) other information the department or office of public instruction consider necessary to establish
12 and implement the program.
13 (2) (a) By September 1, 2025, and January 1, 2026, the department of public health and human
14 services and the office of public instruction shall jointly report to the education interim committee and the
15 children, families, health, and human services interim committee on their progress toward the development of
16 the program.
17 (b) By May 1, 2026, the department of public health and human services and the office of public
18 instruction shall jointly submit the program plan pursuant to subsection (1) and report to the education interim
19 committee and the children, families, health, and human services interim committee on their progress toward
20 the development of the program.
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22 NEW SECTION. Section 2. Notification to tribal governments. The secretary of state shall send a
23 copy of [this act] to each federally recognized tribal government in Montana.
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25 NEW SECTION. Section 3. Effective date. [This act] is effective upon passage and approval.
26 - END -