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Minutes for HB2444 - Committee on K-12 Education Budget
Short Title
Establishing the school district mental health intervention team program in statute to provide coordinated mental health services for students among school districts and community mental health centers.
Minutes Content for Wed, Mar 8, 2023
Nick Myers, Office of Revisor of Statutes, explained to the committee that HB 2444 would codify into state law the mental health intervention team program. Mr. Myers noted that the program is to provide greater access to behavioral and mental health services to K-12 students, establish a cohesive structure for the provision of such services, reduce barriers that exist for families to consistently access such services, and optimize the behavioral and mental health resources and workforce that is available in Kansas. The state department of education would oversee the program in accordance with the requirements of HB 2444 and the policies and procedures established by the department (Attachment 1).
Mr. Myers stood for questions.
The Chair opened the hearing on HB 2444.
Kyle Kessler, Association of Community Mental Health Centers of Kansas, offered testimony in favor of of HB 2444. Mr. Kessler noted the expansion of mental health facilities both in the community and within Kansas school districts partaking in the pilot program (Attachment 2).
Derek Knopp, Central Kansas Mental Health Center, offered testimony in favor of HB 2444. Mr. Knopp noted improvements in students' internalized moods and emotions, externalized behaviors, school attendance, and academic performance due to enrollment in mental health services supported by the MHIT program (Attachment 3).
Kathy Mosher, Family Service & Guidance Center, offered testimony in favor of HB 2444. Ms. Mosher noted the accomplishments of Family Service & Guidance Center in regards to the MHIT program: doubled the program in Shawnee County in schools, added on site school services in a total of 23 schools, and served 52% more students in 2022 than in 2021 (Attachment 4).
Deena Horst, Kansas State Department of Education, offered brief testimony in favor of HB 2444. Ms. Horst urged the committee to support the legislation that moves the MHIT program from pilot status to permanent status. As Ms. Horst continued, she noted that barriers to treatment are removed when services are provided in school (Attachment 5).
Angie Salava, Olathe Public Schools, offered testimony in favor of HB 2444. Ms. Salava mentioned that student difficulties have rapidly evolved and noted that their program has served students who had experienced rape, drug abuse, suicide attempts, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety (Attachment 6).
Melissa Zieammermann, Wichita Public Schools, offered testimony in favor of HB 2444. Ms. Zieammermann noted the importance of the MHIT program to both students and staff. As a result of this pilot program , and the collaboration of USD 259 and ComCare, 2,219 students have received mental health services as part of their school day, Ms. Zieammermann noted (Attachment 7).
Ericka Lysell, Salina Public Schools, offered testimony in favor of HB 2444. Ms. Lysell boasted that the MHIT at Salina Public Public School could supply on-site mental health services to over 600 students this school year. Improvements in school attendance, externalizing behaviors, academic performance, and internalized behaviors have all been seen as a result of implementation of the MHIT program (Attachment 8).
Shantel Westbrook, COMCARE of Sedgwick County, offered testimony in favor of HB 2444. Ms. Westbrook noted that her organization partners with three separate school districts and have seen an increase in school attendance and reducing negative behaviors (Attachment 9).
The conferees stood for questions.
Stuart Little, Behavioral Health Association of Kansas, offered neutral testimony on HB 2444. Mr. Little noted issues with allowing other providers to provide care and language regarding the reduction of competition (Attachment 10).
Leah Fliter, Kansas Association of School Boards, offered neutral testimony on HB 2444. Ms. Fliter echoed the concerns of Mr. Little's testimony in regards to only allowing community mental health centers to provide services (Attachment 11).
The conferees stood for questions.
Eric Thomason, Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas, offered testimony in opposition on HB 2444 pending amendments. Mr. Thomason recommended removing restrictive language that identifies community mental health centers as the only available service provider (Attachment 12).
The conferee stood for questions.
Written Testimony:
Andrew Brown, Kansas Department for Aging & Disability Services (Attachment 13)
Michelle Hubbard, Shawnee Mission School District (Attachment 14)
Sonja Bachus, Community Care Network of Kansas (Attachment 15)
The Chair closed the hearing on HB 2444.
Without objection, the committee will develop recommendations for State Department of Education budget.
Representative Landwehr motioned to recommend that the State Department of Education budget be removed from HB 2274 and HB 2273 and be moved into SB 113 to be worked by the K-12 Education Budget committee which includes the following: The State Department of Education budget for FY 23, FY 24 and FY 25 as provided in section 24 of HB 2274 and sections 57 and 58 of HB 2273; and Section 118 of HB 2273 amending K.S.A. 72-5462 relating to school district capital improvement state aid revenue transfers from the state general fund for FY 23, Representative Johnson seconded, motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 4:53 PM.
Next meeting is March 13th, 2023.
