SF1952

SF1952 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Students with mental illness requirements modifications provision, Department of Education approved mental health instruction requirement provision, youth sports program mental illness and suicide prevention training provision, and restrictive procedures statewide plan requirements modifications provision

Related bill: HF61

AI Generated Summary

This bill proposes amendments to Minnesota's education statutes to enhance mental health education, youth sports training, and policies related to restrictive procedures in schools.

Key Provisions:

Mental Health Education (Sec. 1)
- Encourages school districts and charter schools to provide mental health instruction for students in grades 4-12, aligned with local health standards.
- The Commissioner of Education, in consultation with mental health organizations, must provide schools with resources biennially, including:
  - Age-appropriate mental health learning activities.
  - A directory of resources related to suicide and self-harm prevention.
- Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, mental health curriculum must be approved by the Department of Education.
Youth Sports Programs (Sec. 2)
- Expands existing concussion awareness and training requirements for municipalities, businesses, and nonprofits organizing youth sports activities.
- Requires training for coaches and officials on:
  - Recognizing mental illness in children and adolescents.
  - Suicide prevention.
- Allows teachers who have completed mental health training as part of licensure renewal to be exempted from additional training.
Restrictive Procedures in Schools (Sec. 3)
- Modifies requirements for the use of physical holds and seclusion in schools.
- Reinforces that restrictive procedures are only for emergency situations.
- Requires continued documentation and monitoring of students placed in physical holds or seclusion.
- Strengthens requirements for seclusion rooms, ensuring safety features such as proper ventilation, lighting, and secure fixtures.
- Mandates schools to receive local safety approvals before using seclusion rooms and register them with the Commissioner of Education.
- Calls for data collection and annual reporting on the use of restrictive procedures, emphasizing efforts to reduce and eliminate seclusion.

Overall Impact:

Strengthens mental health education in schools.
Enhances mental health awareness and suicide prevention training in youth sports programs.
Tightens restrictions on seclusion and restraining measures in schools to protect students.

This bill aims to improve student well-being, increase crisis prevention awareness, and ensure safer educational environments.

Bill text versions

Introduction PDF file

Actions

Date	Chamber	Where	Type	Name	Committee Name
February 26, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Introduction and first reading
February 26, 2025	Senate	Floor	Action	Referred to	Education Policy

Citations

[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "A new subsection clarifying disbursement rules."
      ],
      "removed": [
        "Eliminates previous requirement for municipal matching funds."
      ],
      "summary": "This bill modifies pension fund eligibility for volunteer firefighters under section 353G.06.",
      "modified": [
        "Adjusts pension payment schedule from annual to quarterly."
      ]
    },
    "citation": "353G.06"
  }
]