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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a requirement that entering undergraduate students at a |
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public institution of higher education attend an orientation |
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regarding mental health and suicide prevention services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.9194 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.9194. REQUIRED ORIENTATION FOR UNDERGRADUATE |
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STUDENTS REGARDING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION SERVICES. |
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(a) An institution of higher education shall require each entering |
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undergraduate student, including each undergraduate student who |
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transfers to the institution, to attend an orientation that |
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includes information about: |
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(1) available mental health and suicide prevention |
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services offered by the institution or by any associated |
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organizations or programs; and |
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(2) early warning signs that are often present in and |
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appropriate intervention for a person who may be considering |
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suicide. |
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(b) The orientation under this section must be in the form |
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of a live presentation. |
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SECTION 2. Section 51.9194, Education Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies beginning with entering undergraduate students |
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admitted to an institution of higher education beginning with the |
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2016 fall semester. |
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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. |