SB259
Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program; established, development of modules, report.
Status:
In Senate
Latest Action:
Feb. 10, 2026
Senate: Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 1-N)
Chief Patron:
Bill Stanley (R)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Introduced. Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services; Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program established; pilot programs; development of modules; report.
Establishes the Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program, to be administered by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (the Department) in coordination with the Department of Education and the Department of Health, for the purpose of providing and expanding the accessibility of early childhood mental health consultation services, ... (More) as that term is defined in the bill. The bill requires, pursuant to the Program, early childhood mental health consultation services shall be provided to families of children three through five years of age who exhibit developmental delays and behavioral health concerns and to early childhood care and education programs as enumerated in the bill. The bill requires the Department, in administering the Program, to (i) develop, or contract with community services boards to develop, and make available to early childhood care and education programs and providers developmental readiness modules, in accordance with the requirements of the bill; (ii) designate three pilot regions for initial implementation of the Program, with implementation beginning no later than January 1, 2027; and (iv) submit to the Governor and the General Assembly by November 1 of each year a report on the implementation and outcomes of the Program for each pilot region selected for initial implementation. The provisions of the bill relating to initial implementation of the Program in the pilot regions shall expire on July 1, 2029. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/12/2026 - Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102173D
- 01/12/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Education and Health
- 01/22/2026 - Senate: Assigned Education sub: Public Education
- 01/28/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB259)
- 01/29/2026 - Senate: Senate subcommittee offered
- 01/29/2026 - Senate: Senate committee offered
- 01/29/2026 - Senate: Reported from Education and Health with amendments and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
- 01/29/2026 - Senate: Rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
- 02/10/2026 - Senate: Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 1-N)
