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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the availability of certain behavioral health |
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professionals at certain public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 33, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 33.910 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.910. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL. (a) In this |
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section, "behavioral health professional" means: |
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(1) a licensed specialist in school psychology |
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licensed under Chapter 501, Occupations Code; |
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(2) a licensed professional counselor licensed under |
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Chapter 503, Occupations Code; |
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(3) a licensed clinical social worker licensed under |
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Chapter 505, Occupations Code; or |
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(4) a school counselor with an appropriate certificate |
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or permit issued under Subchapter B, Chapter 21. |
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(b) A school district that receives additional state aid |
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under Section 42.2519 shall: |
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(1) assign a behavioral health professional to each |
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campus in the district; or |
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(2) ensure the services of a behavioral health |
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professional are provided to students at each campus in the |
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district through a contract with one or more behavioral health |
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professionals or a private or nonprofit organization that employs |
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or provides the services of behavioral health professionals. |
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(c) A school district may not require a behavioral health |
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professional assigned under this section to administer assessment |
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instruments or provide other assistance in connection with |
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assessment instruments. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 42, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 42.2519 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 42.2519. ADDITIONAL STATE AID FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH |
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PROFESSIONALS. (a) For each school year, the commissioner may |
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provide additional state aid to each school district in an amount, |
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as determined by the commissioner, sufficient to assist the |
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district in employing or contracting for the services of behavioral |
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health professionals under Section 33.910, if funds are available |
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for that purpose. |
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(b) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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administer this section. |
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SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2018-2019 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |