Florida Senate - 2025                                     SB 720
       
       
        
       By Senator Rodriguez
       
       
       
       
       
       40-01633-25                                            2025720__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to classroom teacher mental health
    3         care; amending s. 1001.42, F.S.; requiring district
    4         school boards to provide classroom teachers with
    5         access to mental health services and mental health
    6         days; providing requirements for such mental health
    7         services and mental health days; providing an
    8         effective date.
    9          
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Paragraph (o) is added to subsection (4) of
   13  section 1001.42, Florida Statutes, to read:
   14         1001.42 Powers and duties of district school board.—The
   15  district school board, acting as a board, shall exercise all
   16  powers and perform all duties listed below:
   17         (4) ESTABLISHMENT, ORGANIZATION, AND OPERATION OF SCHOOLS.
   18  Adopt and provide for the execution of plans for the
   19  establishment, organization, and operation of the schools of the
   20  district, including, but not limited to, the following:
   21         (o) Mental health care and mental health days for classroom
   22  teachers.—Provide classroom teachers, as defined in s.
   23  1012.01(2)(a), with:
   24         1. Access to mental health services by a mental health
   25  counselor or psychiatrist, as those terms are defined in s.
   26  394.455, with adequate training for the specific needs of
   27  classroom teachers, with the goal of preventing job-related
   28  stress and depression. The district school board must provide a
   29  35 percent discount on the copay for such services and may
   30  provide such services at no cost to classroom teachers.
   31         2. Mental health days. The mental health days must include
   32  in-school mental health activities, including, but not limited
   33  to, on-site mental health services, group activities, speakers,
   34  and activities that promote a healthier lifestyle.
   35         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.