WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 3385

HIGHER ED-MENTAL HEALTH ACTION

104th Regular Session Introduced by Carol Ammons and 26 co-sponsors

Public colleges must create expert panels, require Mental Health First Aid training, build local mental-health partnerships, and meet a staffing benchmark of 1:1,250 clinicians to

Public Act . . . . . . . . . 104-0303
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 3385

Summary — HB 3385 (Public Act 104-0303): Higher Ed — Mental Health Action

Status & effective date
- Enacted as Public Act 104-0303; Governor approved August 15, 2025.
- Effective January 1, 2026.

Purpose
- Amend the Mental Health Early Action on Campus Act to strengthen campus mental-health training, require local partnerships, and establish staffing benchmarks so public colleges and universities improve access to clinical mental-health services for students.

Key provisions
1. Expert panels (Sec. 30)
- Each public college or university board must designate an expert panel to develop and implement policies and procedures to:
- Advise campus communities on identifying and addressing student mental-health needs;
- Promote understanding of Section 504 (Rehab Act) and the ADA (1990) as they relate to student protections; and
- Provide training where appropriate.
- Panel composition: at least 2 administrators, 2 faculty members, and 1 mental-health professional.
- The Technical Assistance Center (Section 45) will set initial statewide standards for these policies/procedures.

  1. Mandatory training (Sec. 30)

    • All resident assistants in student housing, advisors, and campus security at public colleges/universities must complete a national Mental Health First Aid course (or similar program) prior to the start of duties.
    • Training must include the institution’s policies and procedures developed by the expert panel.

  2. Local partnerships and service capacity (Sec. 40)

    • Institutions must form strategic partnerships and linkage agreements with local/off‑campus mental-health providers to support referrals when on-campus capacity is insufficient or by student preference.
    • Partnerships must support outreach/marketing to students, student-engagement initiatives (e.g., mindfulness workshops, wellness fairs), and training awareness.
    • Staffing benchmark: institutions shall attempt to meet a clinician-to-student ratio of 1 clinical, non-student staff member per 1,250 students.
    • Minimum staffing: each public college/university must provide at least 3 licensed mental-health professionals — or, if the benchmark requires fewer than 3, at least the number set by the benchmark. Mental-health professionals may be provided as part‑time, on‑campus staff or full‑time, on‑ or off‑campus staff. Service hours should be informed by utilization data and may include in‑person and telehealth.
    • Linkage agreements must specify the capacity that off‑campus providers will serve.

  3. Ongoing review

    • Two years after the law’s effective date and every 5 years thereafter, the Technical Assistance Center must propose updated clinician-to-student benchmarks to the General Assembly based on state data; updates must be no less than 1:1,250.

Who is affected
- All public colleges and universities in Illinois; their students (including those in campus housing), resident assistants, advisors, campus security, faculty, administrators, on- and off-campus mental-health providers, and affiliated community organizations (e.g., NAMI affiliates).

Practical impact and considerations
- Institutions will need to form panels, revise policies, deliver/track required trainings, negotiate linkage agreements, and plan staffing (including telehealth arrangements) to meet the benchmark and minimum-staff requirements.
- Potential costs: hiring or contracting clinicians, training expenses, outreach and partnership implementation. Smaller institutions may face particular resource pressures.
- Expected benefits: clearer campus procedures, increased mental-health visibility and access, and a measurable staffing benchmark for clinical coverage.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.