FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky’s House of Representatives has responded to school shootings by voting to require one mental health professional for every 1,500 students — if districts have the money.
Key language in House bill 604 says “as funds are available,” which means lawmakers did not provide money to hire these mental health workers, and districts will be held accountable only if they can afford it. Many districts in Kentucky would likely have trouble hiring the workers because of budget shortfalls.
A shooting in January at Kentucky’s Marshall County High School killed two students and injured more than a dozen others, a month before 17 people were killed at a Florida high school. House budget chairman Steven Rudy said he hopes lawmakers can find a way of funding the positions.
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