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Bill

HB 1305

Mental health and substance use disorder screening.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Andrade and 2 co-sponsors

Indiana school mental health screening bill requires systematic identification of students needing substance use or mental health intervention services through standardized assessments.

Coauthored by Representatives DeLaney and Pfaff
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Bill Summary · HB 1305

Legislative bill overview

HB 1305 requires mental health and substance use disorder screening as part of standard health assessments in Indiana schools. The bill establishes protocols for identifying students who may need mental health or substance abuse intervention services. It appears designed to integrate preventive mental health screening into existing school health infrastructure.

Why is this important

Early identification of mental health and substance use issues in youth can lead to timely intervention, potentially reducing crisis situations and improving long-term outcomes. Schools are strategic settings for screening since they reach most young people regularly, but this also raises questions about capacity, training, and how findings are managed.

Potential points of contention

  • Privacy and parental notification: Unclear how results are handled, stored, and whether parents are notified before/after screening, raising concerns about student privacy and parental authority
  • School capacity and funding: Schools may lack trained mental health professionals to conduct screenings and provide follow-up services, requiring new resources or unfunded mandates
  • Scope and implementation standards: The bill's specifics on screening frequency, which grade levels are included, and whether screening is mandatory or optional for students remain unclear from the available information

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

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