THE BILL ITSELF
SB 978
Student Mental Health
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 978 By Senator Osgood 32-01068-26 2026978__
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to student mental health; amending s.
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1003.03, F.S.; requiring the State Board of Education
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to adopt rules to enforce maximum class size
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restrictions; amending s. 1006.041, F.S.; requiring
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that a school district’s plan for its mental health
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assistance program include contracts or interagency
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agreements that provide for one licensed mental health
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therapist per school; requiring that such plan include
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policies and procedures ensuring that every classroom
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has a corner for students to regulate emotional
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control and that teachers assign homework that is
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purposeful and assigned with consideration of
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students’ time outside the classroom; providing an
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effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Subsection (7) is added to section 1003.03,
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Florida Statutes, to read:
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1003.03 Maximum class size.—
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(7) ENFORCEMENT.—The State Board of Education shall adopt
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rules to enforce this section and ensure the maximum number of
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students per classroom is not exceeded.
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Section 2. Paragraphs (b) and (c) of subsection (2) of
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section 1006.041, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
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1006.041 Mental health assistance program.—Each school
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district must implement a school-based mental health assistance
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program that includes training classroom teachers and other
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school staff in detecting and responding to mental health issues
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and connecting children, youth, and families who may experience
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behavioral health issues with appropriate services.
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(2) A plan required under subsection (1) must be focused on
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a multitiered system of supports to deliver evidence-based
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mental health care assessment, diagnosis, intervention,
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treatment, and recovery services to students with one or more
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mental health or co-occurring substance abuse diagnoses and to
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students at high risk of such diagnoses. Assessment procedures
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must, at a minimum, include the use of the most recent version
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of the Daily Living Activities-20 (DLA-20) functional assessment
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tool, unless the department specifies in rule the use of a
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different assessment tool. The department shall consult with the
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Department of Children and Families before adopting rules
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regarding use of a different assessment tool. The provision of
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these services must be coordinated with a student’s primary
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mental health care provider and with other mental health
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providers involved in the student’s care. At a minimum, the plan
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must include all of the following components:
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(b) Contracts or interagency agreements with one or more
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local community behavioral health providers or providers of
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Community Action Team services to provide a behavioral health
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staff presence and services at district schools , including at
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least one licensed mental health therapist per school . Services
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may include, but are not limited to, mental health screenings
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and assessments, individual counseling, family counseling, group
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counseling, psychiatric or psychological services, trauma
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informed care, mobile crisis services, and behavior
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modification. These behavioral health services may be provided
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on or off the school campus and may be supplemented by
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telehealth as defined in s. 456.47(1).
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(c) Policies and procedures, including contracts with
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service providers, which will ensure that:
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1. Students referred to a school-based or community-based
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mental health service provider for mental health screening for
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the identification of mental health concerns and students at
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risk for mental health disorders are assessed within 15 days
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after referral. School-based mental health services must be
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initiated within 15 days after identification and assessment,
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and support by community-based mental health service providers
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for students who are referred for community-based mental health
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services must be initiated within 30 days after the school or
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district makes a referral.
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2. Parents of a student receiving services under this
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subsection are provided information about other behavioral
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health services available through the student’s school or local
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community-based behavioral health services providers. A school
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may meet this requirement by providing information about and
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Internet addresses for web-based directories or guides for local
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behavioral health services.
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3. Individuals living in a household with a student
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receiving services under this subsection are provided
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information about behavioral health services available through
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other delivery systems or payors for which such individuals may
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qualify, if such services appear to be needed or enhancements in
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such individuals’ behavioral health would contribute to the
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improved well-being of the student.
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4. Every classroom has a corner designated for students to
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regain emotional control and regulate their emotions.
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5. Teachers assign homework that is purposeful and in a
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quantity that is considerate of students’ time outside the
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classroom.
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Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.