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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a school psychologist licensed under the Occupations |
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Code. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 38.303(a), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The task force is composed of: |
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(1) the commissioner or the commissioner's designee; |
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(2) the following additional members appointed by the |
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commissioner: |
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(A) three parents of students who are enrolled in |
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school districts or open-enrollment charter schools and receive the |
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mental health services described by Section 38.302(1); |
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(B) one person who provides the mental health |
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services described by Section 38.302(1) or the training described |
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by Section 38.302(2) and who is: |
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(i) a licensed professional counselor, as |
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defined by Section 503.002, Occupations Code; |
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(ii) a licensed clinical social worker, as |
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defined by Section 505.002, Occupations Code; or |
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(iii) a school counselor certified under |
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Subchapter B, Chapter 21; |
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(C) one person who is a psychiatrist; |
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(D) two persons who are administrators of |
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districts or schools that provide the mental health services |
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described by Section 38.302(1) or the training described by Section |
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38.302(2); |
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(E) one person who is a member of a foundation |
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that invests in the mental health services described by Section |
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38.302(1) or the training described by Section 38.302(2); |
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(F) one person who is an employee of an |
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institution of higher education designated under Section 38.307; |
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and |
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(G) one person who is a [licensed specialist in] |
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school psychologist [psychology], as defined by Section 501.002, |
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Occupations Code; and |
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(3) for any other entity the task force considers |
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necessary, one person appointed by the task force for each such |
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entity. |
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SECTION 2. Section 48.1021(b), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) The advisory committee consists of the following |
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members appointed by the commissioner: |
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(1) a parent of a student eligible to participate in a |
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school district's special education program under Section 29.003; |
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(2) a director of a school district's special |
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education program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29; |
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(3) a teacher certified in special education; |
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(4) a diagnostician; |
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(5) a [licensed specialist in] school psychologist, as |
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defined by Section 501.002, Occupations Code [psychology]; |
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(6) a provider who provides related services, as |
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described by Section 29.002(2); |
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(7) a superintendent of a school district; |
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(8) a member of a school district's board of trustees; |
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(9) a representative of a disability advocacy |
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organization; |
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(10) a member of the special education continuing |
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advisory committee under Section 29.006; |
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(11) a teacher certified in general education; |
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(12) a student eligible to participate in a school |
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district's special education program under Section 29.003; |
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(13) a representative of a regional education service |
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center; and |
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(14) a school district official who handles business |
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and finance matters for the district. |
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SECTION 3. Section 531.02171(a), Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) In this section, "health professional" means an |
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individual who is: |
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(1) licensed, registered, certified, or otherwise |
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authorized by this state to practice as a social worker, |
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occupational therapist, or speech-language pathologist; |
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(2) a licensed professional counselor; |
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(3) a licensed marriage and family therapist; or |
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(4) a [licensed specialist in] school psychologist, as |
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defined by Section 501.002, Occupations Code [psychology]. |
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SECTION 4. Section 501.002(2), Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(2) "School psychologist" ["Licensed specialist in |
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school psychology"] means a person who holds a license to engage in |
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the practice of psychology under Section 501.260. |
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SECTION 5. Section 501.051(a-1), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a-1) One of the members appointed under Subsection (a)(1) |
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or (a)(2) must practice as a [licensed specialist in] school |
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psychologist [psychology] under Section 501.260. |
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SECTION 6. The heading to Section 501.260, Occupations |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 501.260. [LICENSED SPECIALIST IN] SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST |
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[PSYCHOLOGY]. |
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SECTION 7. Sections 501.260(a) and (c), Occupations Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The executive council by rule shall issue a license to a |
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[licensed specialist in] school psychologist [psychology]. A |
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license issued under this section constitutes the appropriate |
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credential for a person who provides psychological services as |
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required by Section 21.003(b), Education Code. |
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(c) The rules of practice for a [licensed specialist in] |
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school psychologist [psychology] must comply with nationally |
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recognized standards for the practice of school psychology. |
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SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |