An act relating to mental health literacy and peer-to-peer supports in schools

New Section 1 (Legislative Intent) states that the Department of Mental Health, in collaboration with the Agency of Education, shall oversee a mental health literacy training grant program for educators, school personnel, and afterschool staff, plus a peer-to-peer mental health program for student peer connection in supervised settings. These programs are set to take effect on July 1, 2028.

New Section 2 requires the Department of Mental Health, in collaboration with the Agency of Education, to explore potential funding sources for the mental health literacy and peer-to-peer programming as part of its fiscal year 2028 budget presentation, including whether existing special funds are appropriate, and to provide recommendations accordingly.

New Section 3 requires the Department of Mental Health, in collaboration with the Agency of Education and stakeholders, to submit an inventory of existing mental health programming and services in schools to the House Committees on Appropriations and Health Care and the Senate Committees on Appropriations and Health and Welfare by January 15, 2027. The inventory must include a recommendation on how to integrate the new programs into existing services.

The effective date section was renumbered from Section 2 to Section 4. The act still takes effect July 1, 2026, but the actual programs described in the legislative intent do not begin until July 1, 2028, creating a two-year planning window.

New 16 V.S.A. 914 requires every supervisory union or school district to select a mental health and substance misuse literacy curriculum covering six specified topics, including the connection between mental and physical health, evidence-based practices, signs and symptoms, prevalence data, common conditions and treatments, and how to seek assistance. The Department of Mental Health must post guidance on identifying evidence-informed curricula, and districts must make their selected curriculum available to parents and share it with community youth-serving organizations.

School employees assisting with funded peer-to-peer programs must receive training in empathetic listening, enhancing protective factors, recognizing risk factors and warning signs, connecting students to professional services, and any other areas in the SAMHSA National Model Standards for Peer Support Certification.

New Section 2 establishes a four-year pilot program in which the Department of Mental Health distributes grants to fund peer-to-peer mental health support programs in public and approved independent schools. Programs must have oversight by a certified peer support provider and guidance from a school-based mental health service provider.

The Department must develop a request for proposals by January 1, 2027 to identify secondary schools for the pilot, and begin accepting grant applications on a rolling basis starting February 1, 2027. A program evaluation report is due by January 1, 2030.

Grant priority is given to schools that propose a suicide prevention component or are located in areas with high suicide rates or recent traumatic events.

The bill's scope expanded from a single permissive section (18 V.S.A. 7209) allowing schools to optionally apply for grants, to a three-section act that adds a mandatory curriculum requirement applicable to all districts and a structured pilot program with specific federal-style grant mechanisms, advisory boards, listening sessions, and youth outreach subcontracts.

Mental health literacy changed from a mandatory curriculum selection requirement for all supervisory unions and school districts to a voluntary grant program where public schools may apply 'to the extent funds are available' for educator training. The focus shifted from student-facing curriculum content to training educators and school personnel.

Peer-to-peer mental health programs expanded beyond public and approved independent schools to also include afterschool programs and youth mentoring agencies.

Removed the requirement that peer-to-peer programs be overseen by a 'certified peer support provider' with guidance from a 'school-based mental health service provider.' Replaced with oversight by any adult who is not required to be a licensed, certified, or rostered mental health professional.

Removed multiple Department of Mental Health obligations: executing a subcontract for youth outreach, hosting at least two listening sessions with children and youth, convening an advisory board, developing a request for proposals by January 1, 2027, and accepting grant applications on a rolling basis beginning February 2, 2027.

Added explicit language that peer-to-peer programs 'shall be supportive and nonclinical' and 'shall not replace mental health services provided by a mental health professional licensed, certified, or rostered pursuant to title 26.'

Added a new requirement for the Department of Mental Health to develop age-appropriate guidance: for elementary school-aged youth emphasizing social and emotional development and peer connection, and for middle and high school-aged youth emphasizing protective factors, reducing stigma, and recognizing risk factors.

Removed priority criteria for grant awards that favored schools proposing suicide prevention components or located in areas with high suicide rates or recent traumatic events.

Changed from a one-time report due January 1, 2030 to an annual written report due January 15 each year, with different reporting metrics (number of programs requesting support, number of participants, findings and recommendations).

Statutory placement moved from 16 V.S.A. section 914 (education code) to 18 V.S.A. section 7209 (mental health code), and the bill title changed from 'mental health support and substance use disorder prevention' to 'mental health literacy and peer-to-peer supports.'