BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 2282
86R3396 GCB-D	By: West
	Education
	4/7/2019
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Over the past decade, there has been a notable increase in cases of childhood depression, online bullying, and school violence. Additionally, suicide rates amongst school-aged children have notably increased in recent years. School-based health centers (SBHCs) were established by the 76th Legislature, allowing school districts and community partners to work in conjunction to develop cooperative health care programs for students and their families. Most of the centers are located in a permanent facility on a school campus.

Under current statute, Sections 38.051(a) and 38.054, Education Code, SHBCs provide conventional health services and disease prevention for emerging health threats that are specific to the district. Some of the permissible categories of services offered by SBHCs are: family and home support, immunizations, dental health care, health education, and preventative health strategies. S.B. 2282 would include mental health support in the scope of health services delivered by SBHCs.

Section 38.058, Education Code, established health care advisory councils, which are comprised of teachers, parents, and other professionals, who are tasked with making recommendations to school districts on the establishment of SBHCs. S.B. 2282 adds a licensed mental health services provider to the existing list of members appointed to health care advisory councils, pursuant to Section 38.058(b).

This act takes effect on September 1, 2019.

As proposed, S.B. 2282 amends current law relating to providing mental health services and mental health education to public school students at school-based health centers.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 38.051(a), Education Code, as follows:

(a) Authorizes a school district in this state, if the district identifies the need, to design a model in accordance with this subchapter for the delivery of cooperative health care programs for students and their families and to compete for grants awarded under this subchapter. Adds mental health services to a list of services authorized to be delivered in a model described in this subsection.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 38.054, Education Code, to add mental health care to the is of permissible categories of service, and redesignates existing Subdivisions (3)�(5) as Subdivisions (4)�(6).

SECTION 3. Amends Section 38.058, Education Code, as follows:

Sec. 38.058. HEALTH EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE ADVISORY COUNCIL. (a) Authorizes the board of trustees of a school district to establish and appoint members to a local health education and health care advisory council to make recommendations to the district on the establishment of school-based health centers to provide health care services, including mental health services, and to assist the district in ensuring that local community values are reflected in the operation of each center and in the provision of health education and mental health education.

(b) Adds licensed mental health services providers to a list of groups from which the board of trustees is required to appoint to the local health education and health care advisory council under Subsection (a).

SECTION 4. Amends Section 38.063(c), Education Code, to include stabilizing the physical and mental well-being of a student to a list of goals all health care programs should be designed to meet.

SECTION 5. Amends Section 38.064(a), Education Code, to include improved student health, including improved mental health, a list of topics to be emphasized in a required biennial report to the legislature regarding the efficacy of services delivered by school-based health centers in this state during the preceding two years and any increased academic success of students at campuses that receive funding through the Department of State Health Services.

SECTION 6. Requires the board of trustees of a school district that has established a local health education and health care advisory council under Section 38.058, Education Code, to appoint a licensed mental health services provider to the council, as required by the change in law made by this Act, as soon as practicable and not later than January 1, 2020.

SECTION 7. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.