Honorable Senfronia Thompson, Chair, House Committee on Public Health
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB18 by Price (Relating to consideration of the mental health of public school students in training requirements for certain school employees, curriculum requirements, counseling programs, educational programs, state and regional programs and services, and health care services for students and to mental health first aid program training and reporting regarding local mental health authority and school district personnel.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
It is assumed that the provisions of the bill relating to consideration of the mental health of public school students and to mental health first aid program training and reporting could be absorbed using existing resources.
Local Government Impact
The Texas Council of Community Centers indicates that local mental health authorities would be required to hire additional staff to implement the bill. However, this analysis assumes that bill could be implemented with existing staff.
TEA indicates possible costs to local school districts for changes to district improvement plans if current plans do not address grief-informed and trauma-informed care. There may also be costs to districts to implement additional requirements related to training, coordinated school health programs, and local school health advisory councils.
TEA indicates educator preparation programs would be required to update curriculum to include mental health and substance abuse training.
TEA indicates that the bill would require local school districts to provide specific staff development regarding mental health, substance abuse, positive relationships among students, how grief and trauma affect learning and behavior, and bullying to be provided on an annual basis for all new employees and to all educators on a scheduled adopted by rule. If school districts are not currently meeting this requirement, this would create an additional local cost for training and maintaining records of the training.
Source Agencies:
320 Texas Workforce Commission, 529 Health and Human Services Commission, 530 Family and Protective Services, Department of, 701 Texas Education Agency