86R5170 SOS-F
 
  By: Thompson of Harris H.B. No. 906
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of a collaborative task force to
  study certain public school mental health services.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 38, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter F to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER F. COLLABORATIVE TASK FORCE ON PUBLIC SCHOOL MENTAL
  HEALTH SERVICES
         Sec. 38.301.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 61.003.
               (2)  "Task force" means the Collaborative Task Force on
  Public School Mental Health Services.
         Sec. 38.302.  ESTABLISHMENT.  The Collaborative Task Force
  on Public School Mental Health Services is established to study and
  evaluate:
               (1)  mental health services that are funded by
  competitive state grants and provided at a school district or
  open-enrollment charter school directly to:
                     (A)  a student enrolled in the district or school;
                     (B)  a parent or family member of or person
  standing in parental relation to a student enrolled in the district
  or school; or
                     (C)  an employee of the district or school; and
               (2)  training provided to an educator employed by the
  district or school to provide the mental health services described
  by Subdivision (1).
         Sec. 38.303.  MEMBERSHIP. (a)  The task force is composed
  of:
               (1)  the commissioner or the commissioner's designee;
  and
               (2)  six additional members appointed by the
  commissioner as follows:
                     (A)  one parent of a student who is enrolled in a
  school district or open-enrollment charter school and receives the
  mental health services described by Section 38.302(1);
                     (B)  one person who provides the mental health
  services described by Section 38.302(1) or the training described
  by Section 38.302(2) and who is:
                           (i)  a licensed specialist in school
  psychology, as defined by Section 501.002, Occupations Code;
                           (ii)  a licensed professional counselor, as
  defined by Section 503.002, Occupations Code;
                           (iii)  a licensed clinical social worker, as
  defined by Section 505.002, Occupations Code; or
                           (iv)  a school counselor certified under
  Subchapter B, Chapter 21;
                     (C)  one person who is an administrator of a
  district or school that provides the mental health services
  described by Section 38.302(1) or the training described by Section
  38.302(2);
                     (D)  one person who is a member of a foundation
  that invests in the mental health services described by Section
  38.302(1) or the training described by Section 38.302(2); and
                     (E)  two persons, each of whom is an employee of an
  institution of higher education designated under Section 38.307.
         (b)  Appointments to the task force shall be made without
  regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or
  national origin of the appointee.
         (c)  Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the
  task force.
         Sec. 38.304.  OFFICERS. (a)  The commissioner is designated
  as the interim presiding officer for purposes of calling and
  conducting the initial meeting of the task force.
         (b)  The task force:
               (1)  shall at its initial meeting select a presiding
  officer from among its members for the purpose of calling and
  conducting meetings; and
               (2)  may select an assistant presiding officer and a
  secretary from among its members.
         Sec. 38.305.  COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT.  A member of the
  task force may not receive compensation or reimbursement for
  service on the task force.
         Sec. 38.306.  MEETINGS. (a)  After its initial meeting, the
  task force shall meet at least twice each year at a time and place
  determined by the presiding officer.
         (b)  The task force may meet at other times the task force
  considers appropriate.  The presiding officer may call a meeting on
  the officer's own motion.
         (c)  The task force may meet by teleconference.
         Sec. 38.307.  SUPPORT SERVICES FOR TASK FORCE.  (a)  The
  commissioner shall designate one institution of higher education
  with experience in evaluating mental health services to serve as
  the lead institution for the task force.  The institution
  designated under this subsection shall provide faculty, staff, and
  administrative support services to the task force as determined
  necessary by the task force to administer this subchapter.
         (b)  The commissioner shall designate two institutions of
  higher education with experience in evaluating mental health
  services to assist the task force and the lead institution
  designated under Subsection (a) as determined necessary by the task
  force to administer this subchapter.
         (c)  In making a designation under this section, the
  commissioner shall give preference to at least one predominantly
  black institution, as defined by 20 U.S.C. Section 1067q(c)(9).
         (d)  On request of the task force, the agency, a school
  district, or an open-enrollment charter school shall provide
  information or other assistance to the task force.
         Sec. 38.308.  DUTIES OF TASK FORCE. (a)  The task force
  shall:
               (1)  gather data on the race, ethnicity, gender,
  special education status, and geographic location of individuals
  who are provided the mental health services described by Section
  38.302(1); and
               (2)  study, evaluate, and make recommendations
  regarding the mental health services described by Section 38.302(1)
  and the training described by Section 38.302(2), including
  addressing:
                     (A)  the outcomes and the effectiveness of the
  services and training provided, including the outcomes and
  effectiveness of the service and training providers and the
  programs under which services and training are provided, in:
                           (i)  improving student academic achievement
  and attendance;
                           (ii)  reducing student disciplinary
  proceedings, suspensions, placements in a disciplinary alternative
  education program, and expulsions;
                           (iii)  providing early mental health
  prevention and intervention;
                           (iv)  building skills relating to managing
  emotions, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and
  making responsible decisions;
                           (v)  preventing substance abuse;
                           (vi)  preventing suicides;
                           (vii)  adhering to the purpose of the
  relevant program services or training;
                           (viii)  promoting trauma-informed
  practices; and
                           (ix)  promoting a positive school climate,
  including improving safety in the district or school;
                     (B)  best practices for districts and schools in
  providing the services or training; and 
                     (C)  disparities in the race, ethnicity, gender,
  special education status, and geographic location of individuals
  receiving the services.
         (b)  The task force may evaluate mental health services
  funded from a source other than a competitive grant that are
  provided to students enrolled in a school district or
  open-enrollment charter school.
         Sec. 38.309.  REPORTS. Not later than November 1 of each
  even-numbered year, the task force shall submit to the governor,
  the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
  representatives a report of the results of the task force's
  activities conducted under Section 38.308 and any recommendations
  for legislative or other action.
         Sec. 38.310.  GIFTS AND GRANTS; ADMINISTRATIVE COST
  RESTRICTION.  (a)  The task force may accept a gift or grant from a
  private individual, a foundation, or the federal government.
         (b)  The task force may not spend for the administration of
  the task force more than 10 percent of any money appropriated to the
  task force for the purpose of this subchapter.
         Sec. 38.311.  EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and
  this subchapter expires December 1, 2022.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than October 1, 2019, the commissioner
  of education shall:
               (1)  appoint the members of the Collaborative Task
  Force on Public School Mental Health Services, as required by
  Section 38.303, Education Code, as added by this Act; and
               (2)  designate the institutions of higher education to
  provide support services, as required by Section 38.307, Education
  Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  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, 2019.