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The Illinois House passed Senate Bill 726 which directs the
Illinois State Board of Education to assess school districts'
readiness for universal mental health screening of students. The
measure passed the Senate unanimously earlier this month.
“We are in a children's mental health crisis,” said state Rep.
Lindsey LaPointe, D-Chicago, the bill’s House sponsor. “I,
others in this chamber and the executive branch leaders believe
that we have to be thoughtful and systematic in our work to
build up the system.”
If signed into law, ISBE will have until April of next year to
report back to the governor and the General Assembly the results
of the assessment.
State Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dieterich, said school districts
should retain local control and be able to decline the
screenings.
“There’s no opt-outs for school districts. The parents, such as
myself or other members, are not given access to those questions
or know exactly what those questions are or what is going to be
asked of their children,” said Niemerg.
The legislation also provides that the Illinois Department of
Healthcare and Family Services shall implement guidance to
managed care organizations and similar care coordination
entities contracted with the department, so that the managed
care organizations and care coordination entities respond to
lead indicators with services and interventions that are
designed to help stabilize the child.
State Rep. Tom Weber, R-Fox Lake, said parental rights are being
ignored in the legislation.
“We can talk about spending all these millions of dollars but
what should be in the bill, that No. 1, parents are notified,
parents are engaged and parents will be the first ones to know
what kind of results, if any, come out of any type of universal
health screening done to a child at school,” said Weber.
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