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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to providing mental health services and mental health |
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education to public school students at school-based health centers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 38.051(a), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) A school district in this state may, if the district |
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identifies the need, design a model in accordance with this |
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subchapter for the delivery of cooperative health care programs for |
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students and their families and may compete for grants awarded |
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under this subchapter. The model may provide for the delivery of: |
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(1) conventional health services; |
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(2) mental health services; and |
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(3) disease prevention of emerging health threats that |
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are specific to the district. |
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SECTION 2. Section 38.058, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 38.058. HEALTH EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE ADVISORY |
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COUNCIL. (a) The board of trustees of a school district or the |
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governing body of an open-enrollment charter school may establish |
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and appoint members to a local health education and health care |
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advisory council to make recommendations to the district or school |
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on the establishment of school-based health centers to provide |
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health care services, including mental health services, and to |
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assist the district or school in ensuring that local community |
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values are reflected in the operation of each center and in the |
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provision of health education and mental health education. |
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(b) A majority of the members of the council must be parents |
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of students enrolled in the school district or open-enrollment |
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charter school. In addition to the appointees who are parents of |
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students, the board of trustees or governing body shall also |
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appoint at least one person from each of the following groups: |
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(1) classroom teachers; |
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(2) school administrators; |
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(3) school counselors; |
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(4) health care professionals licensed or certified to |
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practice in this state; |
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(5) mental health care professionals licensed to |
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practice in this state; |
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(6) the clergy; |
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(7) [(6)] law enforcement; |
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(8) [(7)] the business community; |
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(9) [(8)] senior citizens; and |
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(10) [(9)] students. |
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SECTION 3. Section 38.063(c), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) All health care programs should be designed to meet the |
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following goals: |
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(1) reducing student absenteeism; |
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(2) increasing a student's ability to meet the |
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student's academic potential; and |
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(3) stabilizing the physical and mental well-being of |
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a student. |
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SECTION 4. Section 38.064(a), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) Based on statistics obtained from every school-based |
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health center in this state that receives funding through the |
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Department of State Health Services, the Department of State Health |
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Services shall issue a biennial report to the legislature about the |
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relative efficacy of services delivered by the centers during the |
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preceding two years and any increased academic success of students |
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at campuses served by those centers, with special emphasis on any: |
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(1) increased attendance, including attendance |
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information regarding students with chronic illnesses; |
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(2) decreased drop-out rates; |
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(3) improved student health, including improved |
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mental health; |
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(4) increased student immunization rates; |
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(5) increased student participation in preventive |
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health measures, including routine physical examinations and |
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checkups conducted in accordance with the Texas Health Steps |
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program; and |
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(6) improved performance on student assessment |
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instruments administered under Subchapter B, Chapter 39. |
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SECTION 5. The board of trustees of a school district or the |
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governing body of an open-enrollment charter school that has |
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established a local health education and health care advisory |
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council under Section 38.058, Education Code, shall appoint to the |
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council a mental health professional licensed in this state, as |
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required by the change in law made by this Act, as soon as |
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practicable and not later than January 1, 2022. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |