2. a. A school district which elects to participate in the grant program created pursuant to this act shall submit an application to the Commissioner of Education to be reviewed by a team of qualified professionals within the Department of Education and Department of Children and Families in such form as required by the commissioner. The application shall include, but need not be limited to:

(1) a description of current school district actions to support the socioemotional needs of students in a stigma-free environment and how a grant will support the expansion of those efforts;

(2) a commitment to provide staff training, including a clearly outlined plan on who will receive training, the resources needed for training, and how the training will be implemented. The training shall include content on how to recognize symptoms of mental health conditions in the student population, and a component on identifying at-risk students most likely to be in need of mental health supports; and

(3) the school district protocol for on-site and community referrals for targeted therapeutic interventions, such as short-term and long-term counseling.

b. The Commissioner of Education, in full consultation with the Commissioner of Children and Families, shall develop criteria for the evaluation of applications for grants. Based upon the criteria developed by the commissioners, and within the limit of available appropriations, the Commissioner of Education shall allocate to each selected school district a grant in such amount as determined by the commissioner. Special consideration shall be given to applicants that: can demonstrate strong ties to relevant community resources, such as mental health providers; or have secured external funding for their student wellness program from community partners.

L.2021, c.456, s.2.