House committee advances bill to shift behavioral-health technical support to regional school safety centers

The House Education Committee voted to report substitute House Bill 1634 (identified in committee as H-157.1) out of committee with a due-pass recommendation after adopting two amendments that revise how a statewide behavioral-health technical assistance and training network for schools would be administered.

The bill’s proposed substitute would make the regional school safety centers of Washington’s nine educational service districts jointly responsible for providing administrative support to a behavioral health technical assistance and training network that supplies school districts and public schools with resources, training and technical assistance to coordinate student behavioral-health supports. The substitute removes a requirement that the administrative support include ongoing evaluation and monitoring of progress toward goals and priorities, and it requires consultation with tribal representatives so services are culturally responsive. The substitute also allows the network to contract for behavioral telehealth services and to partner with federally recognized tribes.

Commi…