Kansas bill to require parental consent for K-12 school mental health services

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – A bill impacting how students would access mental health services at school is moving forward at the statehouse after the education committee advanced on Feb. 2.

The bill would require Kansas K-12 schools to obtain written parental consent before providing school-based mental health services to students.

Representative Megan Steele is behind the bill that would let parents know if their child is getting mental health help at school.

“I’ve had constituents that have brought forth concerns with regards to their own children being pulled out of class and they never knowing about it,” Rep. Steele said.

She said it’s similar to a child receiving medicine from a school nurse. Parents should give consent for their child’s mental health services.

“When you’re pulling a child out of class to specifically focus on mental health, then parents need to give permission for that,” Steele said.

The House Education Committee discussed the bill Feb. 2. Most committee members agreed: parents should know what is happening with their children.

“Well, I think any time we send our kids to public school for eight, nine hours a day, that we should, as parents, have a right to know what’s going on with our children while they’re in the school,” Rep. Shawn Chauncey said.

Some committee members felt the decision should be up to each district.

“This is what local school boards are for to determine this kinds of situations and so on,” Rep. Jerry Stogsdill said.

Several committee members voiced concerns about costs: a school could face a $5,000 fine for violations.

“And getting lawyers involved and all that sort of thing, this could cost school districts, it costs the state God knows how much money,” Rep. Stogsdill said.

Mental health advocates previously expressed concerns that the bill would keep some students from reaching out for help.

While parents would need to provide consent for continued support, schools are exempt from a one-time meeting or an emergency intervention.

This would also not stop teachers from checking in with students.

“If a teacher is generally talking to a class, you know, they ask every day, ‘how are you doing? How was your weekend?’ Those are things that happen with every student, and that absolutely still can happen under this bill,” Rep. Steele said.

The committee did move the bill to the full house for debate, but some members said they’d still like to see clearer explanations or restrictions on several of the bill’s provisions.

More about the bill can be learned here. Additional information can be found on the Kansas State Legislature website.

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