Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-453h – *(See end of section for amended version of subdivision (1) of subsection (c) and effective date.) Mental health first aid training program.

(a) The Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, shall administer a mental health first aid training program. Said program shall:
1. (1) Help persons attending the training program recognize the signs of mental disorders in children and young adults; and (2) connect children and young adults who show signs of having a mental disorder with a professional who offers the appropriate services.
(b) Said commissioners may seek federal and state funding and may accept private donations for the administration of, and providing for persons to participate in, the mental health first aid training program.
*(c) (1) For the school year commencing July 1, 2014, the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall provide mental health first aid training to any person appointed to serve as the district safe school climate coordinator, pursuant to section 10-222k. Each such district safe school climate coordinator shall successfully complete such mental health first aid training.
(2) For the school year commencing July 1, 2015, the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall provide mental health and first aid training to any person appointed to serve as the district safe school climate coordinator for such school year and who did not serve as the district safe school climate coordinator for the prior school year or did not otherwise successfully complete such training. Each such district safe school climate coordinator shall successfully complete such mental health first aid training.
(3) No district safe school climate coordinator shall be required to successfully complete such mental health first aid training more than once.
(d) Each local and regional board of education may require teachers, school nurses, counselors and other school employees to participate in mental health first aid training.
*Note: On and after July 1, 2025, subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section, as amended by section 70 of public act 23-167, is to read as follows:
“(c) (1) For the school year commencing July 1, 2025, the Commissioner of Mental Health and Addiction Services shall provide mental health first aid training to any person appointed to serve as the school climate coordinator, as described in section 10-222dd. Each such school climate coordinator shall successfully complete such mental health first aid training.”

(P.A. 13-3, S. 90; P.A. 23-167, S. 70.)

History: P.A. 13-3 effective April 4, 2013; P.A. 23-167 amended Subsec. (c)(1) by replacing “July 1, 2014” with “July 1, 2025” and replacing references to district safe school climate coordinator and Sec. 10-222k with school climate coordinator and Sec. 10-222dd, effective July 1, 2025.