From my discussions with Mental Health professionals over the years and research that has formed this legislation, it is clear that failure to address these challenges at a young age can harm performance at school and work and can lead to ever worsening mental and Behavioral Health outcomes later in life for individuals and for our country. Anxiety and reading disorders cooccur in approximately 25 of students, and for individuals whose reading challenges persist in adulthood, theres greater likelihood of depression, low selfesteem, and difficulty in social functioning. To break this cycle, the bill i authored would provide help for staff. Individuals and families with brothersponsored Health Insurance must also have robust access to treatment outside of school. Some insurers, unfortunately, have placed arbitrary coverage limits on mental and Behavioral Health care making it hard for patients to access treatment in the same way they would for physical ailments. This legislation makes st