HB123 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Nathaniel LedbetterRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Schools, K-12, mental health service coordinator for each school system, subject to legislative appropriation, duties to Dept. of Mental Health and Dept. of Education, qualifications provided

Summary

HB123 requires Alabama K-12 school systems to hire a mental health service coordinator, conduct needs assessments, and implement an opt-in policy for parental involvement in school-based mental health services, funded by appropriations.

What This Bill Does

Starting in the 2023-2024 school year, each local board must hire a mental health service coordinator to oversee student mental health services. Coordinators must meet specified qualifications and obtain a school-based mental health certificate within one year of hire. Boards must complete and submit a needs assessment and resource map for mental health resources, and DMH/DOE may adopt rules to implement the program. Boards must adopt a policy requiring parent opt-in for mental health services, including annual notification to parents, annual written permission for participation, parental control over counseling decisions, and records kept as health care records separate from academic files; participation for students under age 14 requires specific written parental instruction unless there is an imminent threat.

Who It Affects

• Local boards of education and independent school systems in Alabama must hire a mental health service coordinator, assess needs, and implement the policy and resources for student mental health (subject to funding).
• Public K-12 students and their parents/guardians will be affected by the opt-in policy for mental health services, the consent requirements, and the handling of health records.

Key Provisions

• Every local board/independent school system must employ a mental health service coordinator beginning with the 2023-2024 school year.
• Coordinators must meet specific qualifications (bachelor's in social work, or DOE qualifications for counselor or nurse, or licensed/licensed mental health professional, or other DMH/DOE-approved qualifications) and must earn a school-based mental health certificate within one year of hire.
• Boards must complete and submit a needs assessment and resource map for mental health services by the end of the 2021 fiscal year (and as requested thereafter).
• DMH and DOE may adopt rules and policies necessary to implement the act.
• A local board must adopt a policy requiring parents to opt-in for mental health services, including annual notification, annual written permission for participation, parental input on diagnoses/treatments, and records kept separately from academic records.
• For students under age 14, ongoing counseling or mental health services may not occur without specific written parental instruction unless there is an imminent threat to health or safety.
• The act’s provisions are subject to appropriations by the Legislature and take effect on the first day of the third month after passage.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education