SB51 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rodger SmithermanSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

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

Summary

SB51 would require every local school board in Alabama to hire a mental health service coordinator for K-12 schools, establish qualifications and certification, and mandate needs assessments with state support for mental health services.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, starting in the 2022-2023 school year, local boards must employ a mental health service coordinator to coordinate student mental health services across their district. Coordinators must meet specified qualifications and earn a school-based mental health certificate within one year of hire. By the end of the 2022 fiscal year, boards must complete and submit a needs assessment and resource map to the Alabama Department of Mental Health to guide improvements. The Alabama Department of Mental Health and the State Department of Education will provide ongoing evaluation and support for mental health services, with implementation rules and funding subject to appropriations.

Who It Affects

• Local boards of education: must hire a mental health service coordinator (subject to appropriations) and complete needs assessments and resource maps to guide mental health services.
• Students in Alabama K-12: should receive coordinated, evaluated mental health services across their schools.
• State agencies (Alabama Department of Mental Health and State Department of Education): responsible for setting coordinator qualifications, developing the certification program, collecting needs assessments, and providing ongoing evaluation and support.

Key Provisions

• Local boards must hire a mental health service coordinator starting with the 2022-2023 school year to coordinate student mental health services district-wide (subject to appropriation).
• The coordinator must have one of the following qualifications: bachelor's in social work; meet SDE qualifications for a school counselor; meet SDE qualifications for a school nurse; professional mental health experience or licensure in a mental health field (e.g., LPC or LMFT); or other qualifications determined by ADMH and SDE.
• Within one year of being hired, the coordinator must earn a school-based mental health certificate through a certification program developed by the Alabama Department of Mental Health.
• By the last day of the 2022 fiscal year, each local board must complete and submit to the Alabama Department of Mental Health a needs assessment and resource map for its schools to guide quality improvement in mental health resources.
• The Alabama Department of Mental Health and the State Department of Education may adopt rules and policies to implement the bill and will provide ongoing evaluation and support for mental health services, with funding and implementation subject to legislative appropriations.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after its passage/approval.

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