Higher Education Mental Health Act of 2019
This bill requires the Department of Education to establish an Advisory Commission on Serving and Supporting Students with Mental Health Disabilities in Institutions of Higher Education. The commission must conduct a study and report on (1) services available to students with mental health disabilities in institutions of higher education (IHEs) and the effectiveness of such services in supporting these students; (2) the impact of policies and procedures, such as reasonable accommodation and disciplinary policies, that help or hinder the goal of providing equal opportunity to these students; (3) the use of protected health information of these students by IHEs; (4) the impact of providing mental health services on a student's academic performance, well-being, and ability to complete college; (5) conclusions on the major challenges facing these students; and (6) recommendations to improve the overall education, retention, and graduation rates of these students.
The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to submit a report on the challenges faced by students with mental health disabilities in IHEs.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3489 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3489
To authorize the Secretary of Education to establish an Advisory
Commission on Serving and Supporting Students with Mental Health
Disabilities in Institutions of Higher Education, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 25, 2019
Mr. Trone (for himself, Ms. Wild, Mr. Joyce of Pennsylvania, Ms.
Shalala, and Mr. Fitzpatrick) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Education and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Education to establish an Advisory
Commission on Serving and Supporting Students with Mental Health
Disabilities in Institutions of Higher Education, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Higher Education Mental Health Act
of 2019''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) More than 75 percent of mental health conditions begin
before the age of 24.
(2) More than 25 percent of students between the ages of 18
and 24 reported a mental health concern.
(3) More than 50 percent of students between the ages of 18
and 24 reported having a severe psychological problem.
(4) More than 50 percent of students between the ages of 18
and 24 reported feelings of hopelessness.
(5) Higher education counseling centers are devoting more
time to rapid-response treatment with more than 25 percent of
students who sought help reporting they had intentionally hurt
themselves.
(6) Over a 5-year period, counseling center utilization
increased by an average of 30 to 40 percent, while enrollment
increased by only 5 percent, forcing institutions to stretch
mental health services to more students without increasing
resources.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are the following:
(1) To ensure States and institutions of higher education
are provided with accurate information on the mental health
concerns facing students.
(2) To provide detailed recommendations that institutions
of higher education, States, and the Federal Government can
take to improve the mental health services available to
students and properly treat the rising number of students with
mental health issues.
SEC. 3. ADVISORY COMMISSION ON SERVING AND SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH
MENTAL HEALTH DISABILITIES IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER
EDUCATION.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Education shall establish a
commission to be known as the Advisory Commission on Serving and
Supporting Students with Mental Health Disabilities in Institutions of
Higher Education (referred to in this section as the ``Commission'').
(b) Membership.--
(1) Total number of members.--The Commission shall include
not more than 20 members, who shall be appointed by the
Secretary of Education in accordance with paragraphs (2) and
(3).
(2) Members of the commission.--The Commission shall
include 1 representative from each of the following:
(A) The Office of Postsecondary Education of the
Department of Education.
(B) The Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitation Services of the Department of Education.
(C) The Office of Civil Rights of the Department of
Education.
(D) The Office of Civil Rights of the Department of
Justice.
(E) The National Council on Disability.
(F) A membership association for administrative and
personnel professionals focused on creating an
inclusive higher education environment for individuals
with disabilities, as determined by the Secretary.
(G) An organization that represents the Protection
and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness
program, as determined by the Secretary.
(H) An organization operated by and representing
secondary and postsecondary education students with
mental health disabilities advocating for mental health
services and suicide prevention.
(I) An organization representing college and
university counseling directors.
(3) Additional members of the commission.--In addition to
the members included under paragraph (2), the Commission shall
include the following:
(A) Four members from leadership of institutions of
higher education who have demonstrated experience in
successfully supporting the retention and graduation of
students with mental health disabilities, including
from counseling and psychiatric services staff. With
respect to such 4 members, 1 member shall be a staff
member of a 2-year degree-granting institution of
higher education, 1 member shall be a staff member from
a 4-year degree-granting institution of higher
education, 1 member shall be a member of campus law
enforcement, and 1 member shall serve as a general
counsel. Such 4 members shall represent institutions of
differing sizes.
(B) Three members from family members of
individuals who are--
(i) enrolled in an institution of higher
education on the date such family member is
appointed to the Commission; or
(ii) former students with a mental health
disability.
(C) Four members from individuals with mental
health disabilities, including not less than 2
individuals enrolled in an institution of higher
education on the date of appointment to the Commission.
Any remaining member shall be an individual with a
mental health disability who has attended an
institution of higher education.
(4) Timing.--The Secretary of Education shall establish the
Commission and appoint the members of the Commission not later
than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(c) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--The Commission shall select
a chairperson and vice chairperson from among the members of the
Commission. Either the chairperson or the vice chairperson shall be a
student or former student with a mental health disability.
(d) Meetings.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall meet at the call of
the chairperson, but not less often than 8 times.
(2) First meeting.--Not later than 60 days after the
appointment of the members of the Commission under subsection
(b), the Commission shall hold the Commission's first meeting.
(e) Duties.--The Commission shall conduct a study, using the
highest quality and most representative data and research available,
and prepare a report for the Secretary of Education that includes the
following:
(1) Findings from stakeholders, including through
solicitation of public testimony, related to the challenges
faced by students with mental health disabilities in
institutions of higher education, including--
(A) the services available to students with mental
health disabilities in institutions of higher education
and their effectiveness in supporting these students;
(B) the impact of policies and procedures that help
or hinder the goal of providing equal opportunity for
students with mental health disabilities, such as
reasonable accommodation policies, mandatory and
voluntary leave policies, and disciplinary policies;
(C) the use of protected health information of
students with mental health disabilities by
institutions of higher education, including the extent
to which campus-based mental health providers share
this information with college or university officials
without student consent; and
(D) the impact of providing mental health services
on a student's academic performance, well-being, and
ability to complete college.
(2) Conclusions on the major challenges facing students
with mental health disabilities in institutions of higher
education.
(3) Recommendations to improve the overall education, and
retention and graduation rates, of students with mental health
disabilities in institutions of higher education, with the goal
of helping these students access educational opportunities
equal to those of their non-disabled peers.
(f) Commission Personnel Matters.--
(1) Travel expenses.--The members of the Commission shall
not receive compensation for the performance of services for
the Commission, but shall be allowed reasonable travel
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates
authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of
chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from
their homes or regular places of business in the performance of
services for the Commission. Notwithstanding section 1342 of
title 31, United States Code, the Secretary of Education may
accept the voluntary and uncompensated services of members of
the Commission.
(2) Staff.--The Secretary of Education may designate such
personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to
perform its duties.
(3) Detail of government employees.--Any Federal Government
employee, with the approval of the head of the appropriate
Federal agency, may be detailed to the Commission without
reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption of
loss of civil service status or privilege.
(4) Facilities, equipment, and services.--The Secretary of
Education shall make available to the Commission, under such
arrangements as may be appropriate, necessary equipment,
supplies, and services.
(g) Reports.--
(1) Interim and final reports.--The Commission shall
prepare and submit to the Secretary of Education, as well as
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the
Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of
Representatives--
(A) an interim report that summarizes the progress
of the Commission, along with any interim findings,
conclusions, and recommendations as described in
subsection (e); and
(B) a final report that states final findings,
conclusions, and recommendations as described in
subsection (e).
(2) Preparation and submission.--The reports described in
paragraph (1) shall be prepared and submitted--
(A) in the case of the interim report, not later
than 1 year after the date on which all the members of
the Commission are appointed; and
(B) in the case of the final report, not later than
2 years after the date on which all the members of the
Commission are appointed.
(h) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate on the day after
the date on which the Commission submits the final report under
subsection (g).
SEC. 4. GAO STUDY.
Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this
Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to
Congress a report that examines the challenges faced by students with
mental health disabilities in institutions of higher education,
including--
(1) the services available to students with mental health
disabilities in institutions of higher education and their
effectiveness in supporting these students;
(2) the impact of policies and procedures that help or
hinder the goal of providing equal opportunity for students
with mental health disabilities, such as reasonable
accommodation policies, mandatory and voluntary leave policies,
and disciplinary policies;
(3) the use of protected health information of students
with mental health disabilities by institutions of higher
education, including the extent to which campus-based mental
health providers share this information with college or
university officials without student consent;
(4) the impact of providing mental health services on a
student's academic performance, well-being, and ability to
complete college;
(5) conclusions on the major challenges facing students
with mental health disabilities in institutions of higher
education; and
(6) recommendations to improve the overall education, and
retention and graduation rates, of students with mental health
disabilities in institutions of higher education, with the goal
of helping these students access educational opportunities
equal to those of their non-disabled peers.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
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