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House Bill 1386 |
House Author: Coleman et al. |
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Effective: 6-17-11 |
Senate Sponsor: Ellis |
House Bill 1386 amends the Health and Safety Code to require the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), in coordination with the Texas Education Agency, to provide and annually update a list of recommended best practice-based early mental health intervention and suicide prevention programs for implementation in public elementary, junior high, middle, and high schools within the general education setting. A school district is authorized to select a program or programs from the list that are appropriate for implementation in the district. DSHS is required to submit a report to the legislature, not later than January 1, 2013, relating to the development of the list and the implementation of programs in participating school districts. The bill sets out required program components and specifies issues that must be considered in developing the list. The board of trustees of a school district is authorized to adopt a policy and any necessary procedures concerning early mental health intervention and suicide prevention that meet certain specified criteria. The policy and procedures must be included in the annual student handbook and the district improvement plan.
House Bill 1386 amends the Education Code to prohibit a person from being employed by a school district as a marriage and family therapist unless the person is licensed by the state agency that licenses that profession and to authorize a person to perform specific services within that profession for a school district only if the person holds the appropriate credential. As long as a person employed by a school district before September 1, 2011, to perform marriage and family therapy is employed by the same district, the person is not required to hold a license as a marriage and family therapist to perform marriage and family therapy within that district. The bill requires the State Board for Educator Certification to propose rules for the administration of provisions relating to the employment of a marriage and family therapist by a school district.