Healthcare (Substance Abuse)

HB 1375 creates the "Tennessee Mental Health Volunteer Alliance," a statewide database of licensed mental health professionals who can volunteer to provide immediate mental health support at schools or public facilities following traumatic events like gun violence or disasters. Schools and public facilities can request specific mental health professionals through this system, with services provided pro bono (no cost to the requesting entity). The state allocates $250,000 annually to cover database administration, travel expenses (using federal mileage rates), and lodging for on-site services, with unused funds transferred to the School Safety Fund. This bill directly affects schools, mental health professionals, and state agencies managing the database and safety funding.

House Joint Resolution 91 is a symbolic resolution expressing the Tennessee General Assembly's support for the SREB Crisis Recovery Network. It directly supports Tennessee schools, districts, and postsecondary institutions by endorsing a regional network that provides long-term, specialized counseling services after crises like natural disasters, school shootings, or public emergencies. The resolution recognizes that schools often lack sustained mental health resources, especially in rural areas, and highlights the network’s role in deploying trained counselors to aid recovery for students, teachers, and communities over extended periods. This is a non-binding statement of support, not a law imposing new requirements.