The Illinois State Capitol in Springfield (FILE-WILL STEVENSON/WGIL)
Illinois public schools are one step closer to implementing mental health screenings for all students.
The Illinois House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 726, which would direct the Illinois State Board of Education to assess school districts’ readiness for mental health screening of all students.
“We are facing a child mental health crisis,” said state Rep. Lindsay LaPointe (D-Chicago), the bill’s House sponsor. “I, other members of this chamber, and executive branch leaders believe that we must take a thoughtful, systematic approach to building the system.”
If the bill becomes law, ISBE would report the results of its evaluation to the governor and the General Assembly by April of next year.
State Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dietrich, said school districts should retain local autonomy and be able to opt out of screenings.
“School districts don’t have the right to opt out. Parents like myself and other council members don’t have access to these questions or know exactly what they’re asked or what will be asked of their children,” Niemarg said.
The legislation also requires the Illinois Department of Health and Family Services to implement guidance to managed care organizations and similar care coordination agencies that contract with the department, and requires managed care organizations and care coordination agencies to respond to leading indicators with services and interventions designed to stabilize a child’s condition.
Republican Rep. Tom Weber of Fox Lake said the bill ignores parental rights.
“We can debate spending millions of dollars, but what should be in this bill is number one, informing parents, engaging parents, making sure parents are the first to know what the findings, if any, are going to be from any kind of universal health screening that’s done for their kids in school,” Weber said.
