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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the licensing of certain education professionals as |
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licensed specialists in school psychology. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 501.260, Occupations Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (b-1) and (b-2) to read as follows: |
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(b-1) The executive council, in consultation with the |
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commissioner of education and the State Board for Educator |
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Certification, shall adopt rules providing for the issuance of a |
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license under this section to a person who has been employed by a |
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school district as: |
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(1) an educational diagnostician; |
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(2) an occupational therapist; |
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(3) a school counselor; |
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(4) a social worker; |
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(5) a special education teacher; or |
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(6) a speech language pathologist. |
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(b-2) In adopting rules under Subsection (b-1), the |
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executive council shall consult with the Texas Education Agency and |
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the State Board for Educator Certification to identify the skills, |
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training, and education needed for a person described by that |
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subsection to successfully provide psychological services in a |
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school district. The rules adopted under Subsection (b-1) must |
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establish a process for the executive council, with the assistance |
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of a regional education service center established under Chapter 8, |
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Education Code, as considered appropriate by the commissioner of |
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education, to identify any additional education and training that |
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an applicant must complete before issuance of the license. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council shall |
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adopt the rules required by Section 501.260(b-1), Occupations Code, |
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as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. 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, 2025. |