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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 906 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 906

 To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a 
  pilot program to support evidence-based mental health peer support 
                        activities for students.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 6, 2025

    Mr. Hickenlooper (for himself and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a 
  pilot program to support evidence-based mental health peer support 
                        activities for students.

    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 ``Peer to Peer Mental Health Support 
Act''.

SEC. 2. PEER-TO-PEER MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT.

    (a) In General.--The Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and 
Substance Use (referred to in this section as the ``Assistant 
Secretary''), in consultation with the Secretary of Education, may, as 
appropriate and within a relevant existing program, carry out a pilot 
program and make awards, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities 
to support evidence-based mental health peer support activities for 
students enrolled in secondary schools (as such term is defined in 
section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 7801)).
    (b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive an award under this 
section, an entity shall--
            (1) be a State, political subdivision of a State, 
        territory, or Indian Tribe or Tribal organization (as such 
        terms are defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination 
        and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)); and
            (2) submit to the Assistant Secretary an application at 
        such time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
        the Assistant Secretary may require, including a description of 
        how the entity will measure and evaluate progress of the 
        program in improving student mental health outcomes.
    (c) Use of Amounts.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), an eligible 
        entity may use amounts provided under this section to implement 
        or operate evidence-based mental health peer support activities 
        in 1 or more secondary schools (as such term is defined in 
        section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
        1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)) within the jurisdiction of such eligible 
        entity, which may include providing training, as appropriate, 
        to students, adult supervisors, and other appropriate 
        individuals to improve the early identification of, response 
        to, and recovery supports for mental health and substance use 
        challenges, reduce associated risks, and promote resiliency.
            (2) Program oversight.--An eligible entity shall ensure 
        that mental health peer support activities under paragraph (1) 
        are overseen by a school-based mental health professional.
            (3) FERPA.--Any education records of the student collected 
        or maintained under this section shall have the protections 
        provided in section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act 
        (20 U.S.C. 1232g).
    (d) Evaluation; Report.--
            (1) Evaluation.--The Assistant Secretary shall carry out an 
        evaluation to measure the efficacy of the program under this 
        section. The evaluation shall--
                    (A) measure participation rates in mental health 
                peer support activities, including any associated 
                trends;
                    (B) describe the specific trainings provided, or 
                other activities carried out under the pilot program;
                    (C) assess whether such mental health peer support 
                activities impacted mental health outcomes of 
                participating students; and
                    (D) measure the effectiveness of the pilot program 
                in connecting students to professional mental health 
                services compared to other evidence-based strategies.
            (2) Report.--The Assistant Secretary shall prepare and 
        submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
        Pensions of the Senate and the Committees on Energy and 
        Commerce and Education and Workforce of the House of 
        Representatives a report containing the results of the 
        evaluation conducted under paragraph (1).
    (e) Technical Assistance.--The Assistant Secretary, in coordination 
with the Secretary of Education, shall provide technical assistance to 
eligible entities applying for and receiving an award under this 
section, including the identification and dissemination of best 
practices for mental health peer support programs for students.
    (f) Rule of Construction.--Section 4001 of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7101) shall apply to an 
entity receiving a grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under this 
section in the same manner as such section applies to an entity 
receiving funding under title IV of such Act, except that section 
4001(a)(2)(B)(i) of such Act shall not apply.
    (g) Sunset.--This section shall terminate on September 30, 2029.
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