Nebraska Statutes 79-11,159. Behavioral health points of contact; designation; qualifications; behavioral health training and resources; access; coordination; report
(1) On or before August 1, 2023, each school district shall designate one or more behavioral health points of contact for each school building or other division as determined by the school district. A behavioral health point of contact may be an administrator, a school nurse, a school psychologist, or another designated person affiliated with such school building or other division. Each behavioral health point of contact shall have knowledge of community behavioral health service providers and other resources available for students and families.
Terms Used In Nebraska Statutes 79-11,159
- Administrator: means any certified employee such as superintendent, assistant superintendent, principal, assistant principal, school nurse, or other supervisory or administrative personnel who do not have as a primary duty the instruction of pupils in the public schools. See Nebraska Statutes 79-101
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Person: shall include bodies politic and corporate, societies, communities, the public generally, individuals, partnerships, limited liability companies, joint-stock companies, and associations. See Nebraska Statutes 49-801
- School: means a school under the jurisdiction of a school board authorized by Nebraska Statutes 79-101
- School year: means (a) for elementary grades other than kindergarten, the time equivalent to at least one thousand thirty-two instructional hours and (b) for high school grades, the time equivalent to at least one thousand eighty instructional hours. See Nebraska Statutes 79-101
- State: when applied to different states of the United States shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories organized by Congress. See Nebraska Statutes 49-801
- Year: shall mean calendar year. See Nebraska Statutes 49-801
(2) On or before August 1, 2023, and on or before each August 1 thereafter, the State Department of Education, in consultation with the Division of Behavioral Health of the Department of Health and Human Services, shall provide each school district with a registry of state and local behavioral health resources available to work with students and families by geographic area. The registry shall be updated at least annually and include resources for both school-based services and services accessible by students’ families outside of school.
(3) Each behavioral health point of contact shall coordinate access to community behavioral health services for students and families and facilitate access to services during the school day at the school the student attends. Except as provided in section 43-2101, such facilitation shall be approved by the student’s parent or guardian. In addition, the behavioral health point of contact shall also be responsible for the duties set forth in section 79-3603.
(4) Before the beginning of school year 2023-24, and before the beginning of each school year thereafter, each school district shall report the designated behavioral health points of contact to the State Department of Education.