NEW LEGISLATION DROPPED! HB 2038 FUNDS AND EXPANDS ACCESS TO BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE FOR YOUTH

New legislation was introduced this week to help address the youth behavioral health crisis. HB 2038 would establish the Youth Behavioral Health Account and fund it with a 0.4% tax on the gross income of social media platforms.

Social media is having harmful effects on youth behavioral health

The time our children spend online is continually increasing:

-          97% of teens say that they use the internet every day

-        1 in 3 teens say that they are on social media "almost constantly"

Widespread use of social media among young people has contributed to a surge in mental and behavioral health challenges. Studies show that American teenagers who use social media over three hours each day face twice the risk of behavioral health issues such as anxiety or depression.

Lack of access to behavioral health care only exacerbates these issues.

Washington kids have among the highest prevalence of mental illness and the least access to care

Washington is ranked 48th in the country in youth behavioral health, and state data shows Washington kids are indeed suffering. For example, the 2023 Healthy Youth Survey found that 1 in 8 Washington eighth graders made a plan to attempt suicide in the last year.  Additionally, 64% of youth are not receiving any care for clinically diagnosable anxiety and/or depression.

Our kids need help to overcome very serious mental and behavioral health challenges, but there has yet to be a successful state-level solution.

HB 2038 will help fund near-and long-term efforts to address the youth behavioral health crisis in our state.

HB 2038 will:

• Impose a modest tax on social media companies

• Create the Youth Behavioral Health Account to deposit revenue from the tax

• Restrict spending from the new account to the following:

  • A pilot program for telebehavioral health services aimed at removing barriers to care for school-aged youth

  • Funding a Chief Officer of Youth Behavioral Health position within the Governor’s Office to better evaluate and coordinate efforts to address the unique issues and challenges impacting young people’s mental and behavioral health

  • Funding for the Governor’s Office to support prenatal through 25 behavioral health care, including the Children and Youth Multisystem Care Coordinator and other services and supplies necessary to cover needs for complex care cases

  • Behavioral health needs identified by the Children & Youth Behavioral Health Work Group and Washington Thriving (Prenatal through 25 Behavioral Health Strategic Plan)

Similar telehealth platforms in other states are a proven solution to youth mental and behavioral health crises, and well within our state’s ability.

Removing barriers to care is the most straightforward solution we have for supporting children and youth in Washington. With dedicated revenue and statewide coordination, this pilot program could lay the groundwork for a statewide universal behavioral health solution that ensures even those furthest from opportunity and access have the support and care they deserve.