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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the inclusion of mental health in the public services |
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endorsement on a public school diploma and in information about |
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health science career pathways. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 28.02122 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28.02122. INCLUSION OF MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONS IN |
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HEALTH SCIENCE CAREER INFORMATION. The agency shall ensure that |
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any information provided to students relating to health science |
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careers includes information regarding mental health professions. |
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To the extent that the public services endorsement includes |
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information on health science career pathways, the information must |
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include mental health careers as a possible pathway. |
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SECTION 2. Section 28.025(c-1), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(c-1) A student may earn an endorsement on the student's |
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diploma and transcript by successfully completing curriculum |
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requirements for that endorsement adopted by the State Board of |
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Education by rule. The State Board of Education by rule shall |
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provide students with multiple options for earning each |
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endorsement, including, to the greatest extent possible, coherent |
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sequences of courses. The State Board of Education by rule must |
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permit a student to enroll in courses under more than one |
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endorsement curriculum before the student's junior year. An |
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endorsement under this subsection may be earned in any of the |
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following categories: |
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(1) science, technology, engineering, and mathematics |
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(STEM), which includes courses directly related to science, |
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including environmental science, technology, including computer |
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science, engineering, and advanced mathematics; |
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(2) business and industry, which includes courses |
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directly related to database management, information technology, |
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communications, accounting, finance, marketing, graphic design, |
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architecture, construction, welding, logistics, automotive |
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technology, agricultural science, and heating, ventilation, and |
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air conditioning; |
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(3) public services, which includes courses directly |
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related to health sciences and occupations, mental health, |
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education and training, law enforcement, and culinary arts and |
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hospitality; |
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(4) arts and humanities, which includes courses |
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directly related to political science, world languages, cultural |
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studies, English literature, history, and fine arts; and |
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(5) multidisciplinary studies, which allows a student |
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to: |
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(A) select courses from the curriculum of each |
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endorsement area described by Subdivisions (1) through (4); and |
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(B) earn credits in a variety of advanced courses |
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from multiple content areas sufficient to complete the |
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distinguished level of achievement under the foundation high school |
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program. |
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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, 2015. |