Montana legislation · 2025 Regular Session
Montana SB521: Directing DPHHS and OPI to develop a plan to expand mental health education to all schools in the state
Status: Failed, May 23, 2025
What the bill says
A bill for an act entitled: "an act directing the department of public health and human services and the office of public instruction to develop a plan to expand mental health education into all schools in the state; providing minimum requirements in the program plan; requiring interim reports; and providing an immediate effective date.".
From the engrossed text:
A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT DIRECTING THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION TO DEVELOP A PLAN TO EXPAND MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION INTO ALL SCHOOLS IN THE STATE; PROVIDING MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS IN THE PROGRAM PLAN; REQUIRING INTERIM REPORTS; AND PROVIDING AN IMMEDIATE EFFECTIVE DATE." WHEREAS, the PAX Good Behavior Game curriculum has a 30-year track record in Montana, demonstrating measurable and significant benefits to school-age students in reducing anxiety, lowering violence and substance abuse, improving civic engagement and leadership, and preparing Montana students for challenges and for opportunities for personal and professional development; and WHEREAS, the PAX Good Behavior Game serves as a preventative health care initiative capable of reducing future demand for state mental health services; and WHEREAS, promoting mental well-being and reducing substance use disorder in our communities reduces crime and violence and the subsequent state expense to adjudicate and house those criminal elements; and WHEREAS, expanding the PAX Good Behavior Game promotes civic engagement and establishes a path to prevention and wellness that alleviates the state's burdened health care and criminal justice systems. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: NEW SECTION. Section 1. Direction to department of public health and human services and office of public instruction. (1) The department of public …
Sponsors
- Pope, Christopher (D, 33) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : (S) Died in Process
- : (S) Missed Deadline for General Bill Transmittal
- : (S) Tabled in Committee
- : (S) Fiscal Note Printed
- : (S) Hearing
- : (S) Fiscal Note Unsigned
- : (S) Fiscal Note Received
- : (S) Fiscal Note Requested
- : (S) Referred to Committee
- : (S) 1st Reading
Subjects: Mental Illness or Incapacity, Health Care Services, Health, Education - K-12
Common questions
- What is SB521?
- SB521 is a bill in the Montana Legislature (2025 Regular Session): Directing DPHHS and OPI to develop a plan to expand mental health education to all schools in the state.
- What does SB521 do?
- In its own words: A bill for an act entitled: "an act directing the department of public health and human services and the office of public instruction to develop a plan to expand mental health education into all schools in the state; providing minimum requirements in the program plan; requiring interim reports; and providing an immediate effective date.".
- What is the status of SB521?
- Failed as of May 23, 2025. Latest action: (S) Died in Process (May 23, 2025).
- Who sponsored SB521?
- Pope, Christopher (D, 33).
- Where is the official record for SB521?
- On the Montana Legislature website: https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC2809
Source: official Montana record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.