Florida Senate - 2026 SB 978
By Senator Osgood
32-01068-26 2026978__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to student mental health; amending s.
3 1003.03, F.S.; requiring the State Board of Education
4 to adopt rules to enforce maximum class size
5 restrictions; amending s. 1006.041, F.S.; requiring
6 that a school district’s plan for its mental health
7 assistance program include contracts or interagency
8 agreements that provide for one licensed mental health
9 therapist per school; requiring that such plan include
10 policies and procedures ensuring that every classroom
11 has a corner for students to regulate emotional
12 control and that teachers assign homework that is
13 purposeful and assigned with consideration of
14 students’ time outside the classroom; providing an
15 effective date.
16
17 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
18
19 Section 1. Subsection (7) is added to section 1003.03,
20 Florida Statutes, to read:
21 1003.03 Maximum class size.—
22 (7) ENFORCEMENT.—The State Board of Education shall adopt
23 rules to enforce this section and ensure the maximum number of
24 students per classroom is not exceeded.
25 Section 2. Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (2) of
26 section 1006.041, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
27 1006.041 Mental health assistance program.—Each school
28 district must implement a school-based mental health assistance
29 program that includes training classroom teachers and other
30 school staff in detecting and responding to mental health issues
31 and connecting children, youth, and families who may experience
32 behavioral health issues with appropriate services.
33 (2) A plan required under subsection (1) must be focused on
34 a multitiered system of supports to deliver evidence-based
35 mental health care assessment, diagnosis, intervention,
36 treatment, and recovery services to students with one or more
37 mental health or co-occurring substance abuse diagnoses and to
38 students at high risk of such diagnoses. Assessment procedures
39 must, at a minimum, include the use of the most recent version
40 of the Daily Living Activities-20 (DLA-20) functional assessment
41 tool, unless the department specifies in rule the use of a
42 different assessment tool. The department shall consult with the
43 Department of Children and Families before adopting rules
44 regarding use of a different assessment tool. The provision of
45 these services must be coordinated with a student’s primary
46 mental health care provider and with other mental health
47 providers involved in the student’s care. At a minimum, the plan
48 must include all of the following components:
49 (b) Contracts or interagency agreements with one or more
50 local community behavioral health providers or providers of
51 Community Action Team services to provide a behavioral health
52 staff presence and services at district schools, including at
53 least one licensed mental health therapist per school. Services
54 may include, but are not limited to, mental health screenings
55 and assessments, individual counseling, family counseling, group
56 counseling, psychiatric or psychological services, trauma
57 informed care, mobile crisis services, and behavior
58 modification. These behavioral health services may be provided
59 on or off the school campus and may be supplemented by
60 telehealth as defined in s. 456.47(1).
61 (c) Policies and procedures, including contracts with
62 service providers, which will ensure that:
63 1. Students referred to a school-based or community-based
64 mental health service provider for mental health screening for
65 the identification of mental health concerns and students at
66 risk for mental health disorders are assessed within 15 days
67 after referral. School-based mental health services must be
68 initiated within 15 days after identification and assessment,
69 and support by community-based mental health service providers
70 for students who are referred for community-based mental health
71 services must be initiated within 30 days after the school or
72 district makes a referral.
73 2. Parents of a student receiving services under this
74 subsection are provided information about other behavioral
75 health services available through the student’s school or local
76 community-based behavioral health services providers. A school
77 may meet this requirement by providing information about and
78 Internet addresses for web-based directories or guides for local
79 behavioral health services.
80 3. Individuals living in a household with a student
81 receiving services under this subsection are provided
82 information about behavioral health services available through
83 other delivery systems or payors for which such individuals may
84 qualify, if such services appear to be needed or enhancements in
85 such individuals’ behavioral health would contribute to the
86 improved well-being of the student.
87 4. Every classroom has a corner designated for students to
88 regain emotional control and regulate their emotions.
89 5. Teachers assign homework that is purposeful and in a
90 quantity that is considerate of students’ time outside the
91 classroom.
92 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.