Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Arkansas General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
1 State of Arkansas As Engrossed: H2/4/25
2 95th General Assembly
A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1179
4
5 By: Representative Vaught
6
7
8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT TO CREATE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH
10 SURVEY PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE FACILITIES
11 FOR CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO NINETEEN YEARS OF AGE; AND
12 FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
13
14
15 Subtitle
16 TO CREATE CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL
17 HEALTH SURVEY PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS AND
18 CHILDCARE FACILITIES FOR CHILDREN FROM
19 BIRTH TO NINETEEN YEARS OF AGE.
20
21 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
22
23 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 20, Chapter 45, is amended to add an
24 additional subchapter to read as follows:
25 Subchapter 4 - Child and Adolescent Mental Health Surveys
26
27 20-45-401. Purpose.
28 The purpose of this subchapter is to advance mental healthcare quality
29 and access for children and adolescents from birth to nineteen (19) years of
30 age in this state and to ensure that all children and adolescents from birth
31 to nineteen (19) years of age in this state have the best possible mental
32 health outcomes.
33
34 20-45-402. Definitions.
35 As used in this subchapter:
36 (1) "Childcare facility" means the same as defined in � 20-78-
*JMB198* 02-04-2025 10:16:30 JMB198
As Engrossed: H2/4/25 HB1179
1 202;
2 (2) "Mental health surveys program" means a child mental health
3 surveys program selected by a public school, open enrollment charter school,
4 private school, or childcare facility that has been approved by the
5 Department of Human Services in consultation with the Department of
6 Education; and
7 (3) "Participating student" means a child or student who:
8 (A) Is nineteen (19) years of age or younger;
9 (B) Is enrolled in a public school, open enrollment
10 charter school, private school, or childcare facility; and
11 (C) Participates in a mental health survey program upon
12 the consent of his or her parent or guardian.
13
14 20-45-403. Child mental health survey.
15 (a) A public school, open enrollment charter school, private school,
16 or childcare facility shall implement a mental health survey for
17 participating students using an evidence-based survey program.
18 (b) The Department of Human Services shall establish:
19 (1) A process for a public school, open enrollment charter
20 school, private school, or childcare facility to submit a selected mental
21 health survey program for approval;
22 (2) In accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy
23 Act, 20 U.S.C. � 1232g, who may access and use a participating student's
24 mental health survey data; and
25 (3) A requirement and a process for a public school, open
26 enrollment charter school, private school, or childcare facility or
27 associated personnel to attend annual training related to administering the
28 mental health survey program.
29 (c) In consultation with the Department of Education, the Department
30 of Human Services shall approve an evidence-based student mental health
31 survey program selected by a public school, open enrollment charter school,
32 private school, or childcare facility that:
33 (1) Is age appropriate for each age in which the mental health
34 survey program is administered;
35 (2) Surveys for the mental health conditions determined by the
36 Department of Human Services and the Department of Education; and
2 02-04-2025 10:16:30 JMB198
As Engrossed: H2/4/25 HB1179
1 (3) Is an effective tool for identifying whether a participating
2 student has a mental health condition that requires intervention.
3 (d) A public school, open enrollment charter school, private school,
4 or childcare facility shall:
5 (1) Submit a mental health survey program to the Department of
6 Human Services for approval;
7 (2) Administer a mental health survey program to participating
8 students;
9 (3) Obtain prior written consent from a participating student's
10 parent or guardian that complies with the Family Education Rights and Privacy
11 Act, 20 U.S.C. � 1232g, before the public school, open enrollment charter
12 school, private school, or childcare facility administers the mental health
13 survey program to a participating student; and
14 (4) If results of a mental health survey of a participating
15 student indicates a potential mental health condition, notify the parent or
16 guardian of the participating student of:
17 (A) The participating student's results; and
18 (B) Resources available to the participating student,
19 including any services that can be provided by a mental health provider or
20 entity that partners with the public school, open enrollment charter school,
21 private school, or childcare facility.
22 (e)(1) If funds are appropriated, the Department of Human Services may
23 distribute funds to a public school, open enrollment charter school, private
24 school, or childcare facility to use to assist a parent or guardian to pay
25 for resources described in subdivision (d)(4)(B) of this section that cannot
26 be provided by a school mental health professional in the school setting.
27 (2) The Department of Human Services shall establish the
28 criteria and process for:
29 (A) Determining whether a parent or guardian is eligible
30 to receive the financial support described in subdivision (e)(1) of this
31 section; and
32 (B) Applying for and distributing the financial support
33 described in subdivision (e)(1) of this section.
34 (f) An employee of a public school, open enrollment charter school,
35 private school, or childcare facility who is trained and administers an
36 approved mental health survey in accordance with this section in good faith
3 02-04-2025 10:16:30 JMB198
As Engrossed: H2/4/25 HB1179
1 is not liable in a civil action for an act or omission under this section.
2
3 /s/Vaught
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
4 02-04-2025 10:16:30 JMB198Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.