Section 49428.2 - Policy on referral protocols for addressing pupil behavioral health concerns in grades 7 to 12(a) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (1) "Local educational agency" means a county office of education, school district, state special school, or charter school that serves pupils in any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive.(2) "Youth behavioral health disorders" means pupil mental health and substance use disorders.(3) "Youth behavioral health training" means training that develops awareness of trauma and the brain's response to stress and the protective factors for behavioral health and well-being that support healing and resilience.(b)(1) The governing board or body of a local educational agency shall, before January 31, 2026, adopt, at a regularly scheduled meeting, a policy on referral protocols for addressing pupil behavioral health concerns in grades 7 to 12, inclusive. The policy shall be developed in consultation with school and community stakeholders and school-linked behavioral health professionals, and shall, at a minimum, address procedures relating to referrals to behavioral health professionals and support services. Policies adopted before the date of enactment of the act that added this section may be considered to meet the requirements of this section, if they fulfill the requirements of this section.(2) The policy adopted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall either be based on the model policy developed by the department or be consistent with subdivision (b) of Section 49428.1.(3) The policy adopted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall specifically address the needs of high-risk groups, including, but not limited to, all of the following: (A) Pupils bereaved by death or loss of a close family member or friend.(B) Pupils for whom there is concern due to behavioral health disorders, including common psychiatric conditions and substance use disorders such as opioid and alcohol abuse.(C) Pupils with disabilities, mental illness, or substance use disorders.(D) Pupils experiencing homelessness or placed in out-of-home settings, such as foster care.(E) Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning pupils.(4)(A) The policy adopted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall also address any training to be provided to teachers of pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, on pupil behavioral health.(B) Materials approved by a local educational agency for training shall include how to identify appropriate contacts for behavioral health evaluation, services, or both evaluation and services, at both the schoolsite and within the larger community, and when and how to refer pupils and their families to those services.(C) Materials approved for training may also include programs that can be completed through self-review of materials developed pursuant to this section.(5) The policy adopted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be written to ensure that a school employee acts only within the authorization and scope of the employee's credential or license. Nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing or encouraging a school employee to diagnose or treat youth behavioral health disorders unless the employee is specifically licensed and employed to do so.(6) To assist local educational agencies in developing policies on referral protocols, the department shall develop and maintain a model policy in accordance with Section 49428.1 to serve as a guide for local educational agencies.(c) Subject to subdivision (d), on or before July 1, 2029, a local educational agency shall certify to the department that 100 percent of its certificated employees and 40 percent of its classified employees, who have direct contact with pupils in any of grades 7 to 12, have received youth behavioral health training at least one time, in accordance with all of the following: (1) The training provides instruction around the unique risk factors and warning signs of behavioral health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches classified and certificated employees how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a behavioral health challenge, including guidance on when to make referrals consistent with the policy adopted pursuant to subdivision (b). The training may also include the following:(A) Instruction on recognizing the signs and symptoms of youth behavioral health disorders, including, but not limited to, psychiatric conditions and substance use disorders such as opioid and alcohol abuse.(B) Instruction on how to maintain pupil privacy and confidentiality in a manner consistent with federal and state privacy laws.(C) Instruction on the safe deescalation of crisis situations involving pupils with a youth behavioral health disorder.(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), the youth behavioral health training is provided to classified and certificated employees during regularly scheduled work hours.(3) If a classified or certificated employee receives the youth behavioral health training in a manner other than through an in-service training program provided by the local educational agency, the employee may present a certificate of successful completion of the training to the local educational agency for purposes of satisfying the requirements of this subdivision.(4) The youth behavioral health training shall not be a condition of employment or hiring for classified or certificated employees.(5) A local educational agency may use the training described in subdivision (c) of Section 49428.15 to meet the requirements of this section.(d) A local educational agency may exclude a licensed behavioral health professional who holds a pupil personnel services credential from the youth behavioral health training required by this section.(e) A local educational agency may meet the requirements of subdivision (c) through an alternative approach by adopting a policy that describes how this approach is consistent with the goals specified in subdivision (c) but better meets the needs of pupils.(f) Any parts of this section that fall within the scope of representation, as that term is used in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 3543.2 of the Government Code, are subject to bargaining with the exclusive representative pursuant to Chapter 10.7 (commencing with Section 3540) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code.(g) It is the intent of the Legislature that the sum of thirty-five million dollars ($35,000,000), or as much of that amount as is available, be allocated to the department, for apportionments to local educational agencies in the 2025-26 fiscal year pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (c) of Section 36005 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. Upon appropriation for this purpose, all of the following shall apply:(1) The funding shall be provided on a per-pupil basis for each pupil enrolled in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, as reported in the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System for the prior year Fall 1 Submission to meet the requirements of this section.(2) Local educational agencies shall first use the funding provided to support the youth behavioral health training described in subdivision (c).(3) If there are remaining funds, local educational agencies shall use the funds to offer additional training consistent with this section or to increase the number of staff that hold a pupil personnel services credential within the local educational agency.(h) This section shall become inoperative on July 1, 2030, and, as of January 1, 2031, is repealed.Added by Stats 2024 ch 38 (SB 153),s 57, eff. 6/29/2024.