BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 504

By: Seliger

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that the Texas OnCourse Academy, a postsecondary education and career counseling academy developed by the Center for Teaching and Learning at The University of Texas at Austin, provides school counselors and advisors training to be better prepared to support and advise middle school and high school students on college and career decisions. It has been suggested that it would be beneficial if the academy included information regarding social-emotional learning and indicators of behavioral issues to allow participating counselors and advisors to be better prepared to identify and address potential mental health issues that may arise at the schools they serve. S.B. 504 seeks to provide for this inclusion.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B 504 amends the Education Code to authorize a postsecondary education and career counseling academy developed by the Center for Teaching and Learning at The University of Texas at Austin to include information regarding social-emotional learning and indicators of behavioral issues.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.