AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The goal of this legislation is to make it easier for Texas college students to connect with mental health services in their community.  It is also intended to promote cultural awareness and acceptance of students with behavioral health needs at institutions of higher education.

 

This legislation requires public institutions of higher education to post on the institution's website information about mental health resources available to the students, as well as the contact information and address for the local mental health authority.  There is no such requirement in current law.

 

C.S.H.B. 197 amends current law relating to requiring certain public institutions of higher education to post information regarding mental health resources on the institution's Internet website.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, by adding Section 51.9193, as follows:

 

Sec. 51.9193. REQUIRED POSTING OF MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES. (a) Defines "local mental health authority."

 

(b) Provides that this section applies only to a general academic teaching institution, medical and dental unit, public junior college, public state college, or public technical institute as those terms are defined by Section 61.003 (Definitions).

 

(c) Requires each institution to which this section applies to create a web page on the institution's Internet website dedicated solely to information regarding the mental health resources available to students at the institution. Requires that the web page include the address of the nearest local mental health authority.

 

SECTION 2. Requires each public institution of higher education to which Section 51.9193, Education Code, as added by this Act, applies, to post on its Internet website the information required by that section as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act.

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2015.