Improving Mental Health and Wellness in Schools Act
This bill incorporates mental health promotion and education into guidelines for school wellness policies that are used by local educational agencies participating in school meal programs.
Specifically, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) must issue further regulations for local educational agencies to (1) incorporate goals for mental health promotion and education, and (2) include reducing eating disorders as part of the nutrition guidelines for foods available on school campuses.
The bill also requires that local educational agencies establish multidisciplinary teams of school personnel to lead the development, periodic review, and updating of local school wellness policies. Further, the bill requires the involvement of registered dietitians and school-based mental health services providers (in addition to those already required to be involved) in the periodic review and updating of the local policy.
USDA must also provide technical assistance to promote mental health, encourage mental health assessments, and establish resilient school environments.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3331 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3331
To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to modify
requirements for local school wellness policies.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 15, 2023
Ms. Manning (for herself and Mr. Valadao) introduced the following
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the
Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to modify
requirements for local school wellness policies.
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 ``Improving Mental Health and Wellness
in Schools Act''.
SEC. 2. LOCAL SCHOOL WELLNESS POLICY.
Section 9A of the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42
U.S.C. 1758b) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``mental health
promotion and education,'' after ``physical
activity,'';
(B) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ``obesity;''
and inserting ``obesity and eating disorders;'';
(C) in paragraph (3)--
(i) by striking ``agency permit'' and
inserting the following: ``agency--
``(A) permit'';
(ii) in subparagraph (A) (as so
designated)--
(I) by inserting ``registered
dietitians, school-based mental health
services providers,'' after ``school
administrators,''; and
(II) by adding ``and'' after the
semicolon at the end; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) establish a multidisciplinary team of school
personnel to lead the development, implementation, and
periodic review and updating of the local school
wellness policy;''; and
(D) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking ``1'' and
inserting ``2''; and
(2) in subsection (d)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by inserting ``in consultation with the
Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration,'' after
``Prevention,''; and
(ii) by inserting ``school-based mental
health services providers (when available),''
after ``school food authorities,'';
(B) in paragraph (2)(C)--
(i) by striking ``required to promote'' and
inserting the following: ``required--
``(i) to promote''; and
(ii) by adding at the end the following:
``(ii) to promote mental health, encourage
mental health assessments, and establish
resilient school environments; and''; and
(C) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``Prevention,'' and inserting ``Prevention and
the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration,'';
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking
``2014,'' and inserting ``2026,''; and
(iii) by striking subparagraph (D).
<all>
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H2299)
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
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