Appropriations committee advances bill to let schools apply for mental health literacy grants

The House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday voted to advance H817, a bill that would allow public schools to apply to the Department of Mental Health for grants to provide mental health literacy training to educators and authorize schools, afterschool programs or youth-mentoring organizations to establish peer-to-peer mental health support programs.

"In subsection B ... public school may apply to the department of mental health or design for a grant to provide mental health literacy training to educators or other school personnel," said Katie Mlan of the Office of Legislative Council as she described the Committee on Healthcare's report on H817. The measure also requires the Department of Mental Health to provide guidance and includes reporting requirements for the initiatives.

A committee fiscal staffer, Nolan, told members the bill does not include a state appropriation to support the grants or DMH's oversight. "The bill does not include any specific appropriations from the state to DMH to award any such grants," Nolan said, adding that the language appears to envision federal grants or later action by the Joint Fiscal Committee to provide funds.

During debate, a committee member asked whether the bill would accomplish anything "without any money." Representative Beco, who spoke in support, characterized H817 as an "on-ramp" to coordinate existing efforts and share best practices statewide so schools can implement programs quickly if funding becomes available. "We want the Department of Mental Health and the Agency of Education to lift up those resources where available and that as federal funding especially comes available that they have an on-ramp to implement that quickly," Representative Beco said.

Proponents and members cited examples of existing work and partners that informed the bill's drafting, including NAMI, Mentor Vermont and Vermont After School. They also said students and advocacy groups contributed; a student page, Addison Town, testified in support. Supporters noted that the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention prioritized the measure during committee consideration.

Members pressed for consistency and evaluation: Wayne urged that having many different local programs could make it difficult to compare outcomes and learn which approaches work best. Representative Beco responded that the bill includes recommended, age-appropriate elements and that a request-for-applications process by DMH (if funding arrives) would articulate specific standards.

The committee recorded a motion to report H817 as amended by the Committee on Healthcare; the transcript records a second by Lyn John. The clerk called the roll and multiple members were recorded voting "Yes" (Represent Bloomley; Represent Dickensson; Represent Feltus; Represent Cassens; Represent Roach; Senator Roiki; Squirrel; President Stevens; Gaboni, among others). The transcript contains inconsistent verbal reports of the final tally (both "110" and "101" were reported); the clerk and members proceeded on the understanding the bill would be sent to the floor. The committee noted H817 is expected to appear on the floor schedule Thursday and Friday.

The measure advances the state's effort to expand nonclinical mental health supports in schools, but without a state appropriation the department's ability to implement guidance and provide grants will depend on future federal funding or subsequent legislative appropriations. The committee also attached reporting requirements intended to help aggregate lessons learned across local programs.

Next steps: H817 will be sent to the full chamber for floor consideration; no additional committee action was recorded at the Appropriations meeting.