Committee approves substitute for bill requiring behavioral assessments, interim supports for K–6 students

A Senate committee voted to agree to a committee substitute for Senate Bill 199 that requires kindergarten through sixth-grade students exhibiting violent, threatening or intimidating behavior to be referred to a school counselor, school social worker or school psychologist for a functional behavioral assessment and prioritized, evidence-based interventions.

The substitute, explained to the committee by committee counsel Hank, would require an initial behavioral plan to be followed for two weeks and reevaluated; if the student does not show adequate progress, school leaders and the behavioral professional would determine whether to amend the plan. If a first amendment fails after another two-week period, the bill directs placement in a county behavioral intervention program or with a licensed behavioral health agency the county can access, or removal from the classroom and suspension while alternative learning accommodations are made.

The committee substitute also sets procedures for immediate steps after an incident: if a county lacks access to a behavioral intervention program, the student must be removed from the classroom after the incident, kept…