AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Mental health first aid (MHFA) is an evidence-based training program that educates non-medical professionals about strategies and resources to respond to an individual who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a crisis. Participants learn how to assess risk, listen to and support the individual in crisis, and identify professional resources and supports. The program can be taught to anyone, although it is especially relevant for key community professionals such as teachers, health care workers, police officers, and faith leaders who regularly interact with Texas youth.
Last session, the legislature passed a measure to provide voluntary, no-cost MHFA training to educators. S.B. 133 expands the availability of free MHFA training beyond teachers to include school counselors, nurses, teacher's aides, school bus drivers, principals, assistant principals, and school resource officers.
As proposed, S.B. 133 amends current law relating to mental health first aid training for school district employees and school resource officers.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 1001.201, Health and Safety Code, as added by Chapter 1306 (H.B. 3793), Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, by adding Subdivision (4) to define "school district employee," and Subdivision (5) to define "school resource officer."
SECTION 2. Amends Sections 1001.203(a) and (c), Health and Safety Code, as added by Chapter 1306 (H.B. 3793), Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, as follows:
(a) Requires the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), to the extent funds are appropriated to DSHS for that purpose, make grants to local mental health authorities to provide an approved mental health first aid training program, administered by mental health first aid trainers, at no cost to school district employees and school resource officers, rather than to educators.
(c) Makes a conforming change.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 1001.205, Health and Safety Code, as added by Chapter 1306 (H.B. 3793), Acts of the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, as follows:
Sec. 1001.205. REPORTS. (a) Requires that not later than August 31, rather than July 1, of each year, a local mental health authority provide DSHS the number of:
(1) employees and contractors of the authority who were trained as mental health first aid trainers under Section 1001.202 (General Powers and Duties) to during the preceding calendar year;
(2) educators, school district employees other than educators, and school resource officers who completed a mental health first aid training program offered by the authority under Section 1001.203 during the preceding calendar year; and
(3) individuals who are not school district employees or school resource officers, rather than educators, who completed a mental health first aid training program offered by the authority during the preceding calendar year.
(b) Requires DSHS, not later than September 30, rather than August 1, of each year, to compile the information submitted by local mental health authorities as required by Subsection (a) and submit a report to the legislature containing the number of:
(1) Makes a nonsubstantive change;
(2) educators, school district employees other than educators, and school resource officers who completed a mental health first aid training program provided by an authority during the preceding calendar year; and
(3) individuals who are not school district employees or school resource officers, rather than educators, who completed a mental health first aid training program provided by an authority during the preceding calendar year.
SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2015.