85R5695 MM-D
 
  By: Turner H.B. No. 3143
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to mental health professional staffing requirements at
  certain public institutions of higher education.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 51.9196 to read as follows:
         Sec. 51.9196.  MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL STAFFING
  REQUIREMENT.  (a)  In this section:
               (1)  "General academic teaching institution" and
  "public state college" have the meanings assigned by Section
  61.003.
               (2)  "Mental health professional" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 164.003, Health and Safety Code.
         (b)  This section applies only to a general academic teaching
  institution other than a public state college.
         (c)  Beginning with the 2021-2022 academic year, an
  institution to which this section applies shall ensure that at
  least one full-time mental health professional is available at the
  institution for every 1,500 students enrolled in a full course load
  at the institution.
         (c-1)  Beginning with the 2018-2019 academic year, an
  institution to which this section applies shall ensure that at
  least one full-time mental health professional is available at the
  institution for every 1,750 students enrolled in a full course load
  at the institution.  This subsection expires September 1, 2021.
         (d)  The mental health professional to student ratio
  required by this section does not include students who attend the
  institution through online coursework only.
         (e)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
  adopt rules as necessary to administer this section.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2017.