(1) The legislature supports recommendations made in the August 2002 study of the public mental health system for children conducted by the joint legislative audit and review committee.

     (2) The department shall, within available funds:

     (a) Identify internal business operation issues that limit the agency's ability to meet legislative intent to coordinate existing categorical children's mental health programs and funding;

     (b) Collect reliable mental health cost, service, and outcome data specific to children. This information must be used to identify best practices and methods of improving fiscal management;

     (c) Revise the early periodic screening diagnosis and treatment plan to reflect the mental health system structure in place on July 27, 2003, and thereafter revise the plan as necessary to conform to subsequent changes in the structure.

     (3) The department and the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall jointly identify school districts where mental health and education systems coordinate services and resources to provide public mental health care for children. The department and the office of the superintendent of public instruction shall work together to share information about these approaches with other school districts, regional support networks, and state agencies.

[2003 c 281 § 2.]

NOTES:

     Legislative support affirmed -- 2003 c 281: "The legislature affirms its support for: Improving field-level cross-program collaboration and efficiency; collecting reliable mental health cost, service, and outcome data specific to children; revising the early periodic screening diagnosis and treatment plan to reflect the current mental health system structure; and identifying and promulgating the approaches used in school districts where mental health and education systems coordinate services and resources to provide public mental health care for children." [2003 c 281 § 1.]