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<section article="ged" article_name="Education" number="7-440" title_number="7" title_name="Public Schools" subtitle_number="4" subtitle_name="Health and Safety of Students">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“Behavioral health counseling services” means prevention, intervention, and treatment services for the social–emotional, psychological, behavioral, and physical health of students, including mental health and substance abuse disorders.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>“Health care provider” has the meaning stated in § 20–104 of the Health – General Article.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Maryland Department of Health, in conjunction with the Department, shall recommend best practices for county boards of education to provide to students:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Behavioral needs assessments; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Individualized or group behavioral health counseling services with a health care provider through a school–based health center or through community partnered school–based behavioral health services.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>This section may not be construed to require a county board to provide behavioral needs assessments or individualized or group behavioral health counseling services to students.</text>
  </level>
</section>
