86R6999 SOS-D
 
  By: Martinez H.B. No. 1640
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to establishing a pilot program to employ a life skills
  counselor at public high school campuses in certain counties.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 33.010 to read as follows:
         Sec. 33.010.  LIFE SKILLS COUNSELOR PILOT PROGRAM. (a)  In
  this section:
               (1)  "Crime of violence" has the meaning assigned by
  Article 59.01, Code of Criminal Procedure.
               (2)  "Pilot program" means the life skills counselor
  pilot program established under this section.
         (b)  This section applies only to a county that:
               (1)  is adjacent to:
                     (A)  at least two counties that border the Gulf of
  Mexico; and
                     (B)  at least two counties that are located on the
  international border; and
               (2)  is located within 50 miles of a county described by
  Subdivision (1).
         (c)  The commissioner shall establish a life skills
  counselor pilot program at each high school campus located in a
  county subject to this section as a strategy for addressing
  emotional and mental health concerns of students.
         (d)  A school district located in a county subject to this
  section shall employ for each district high school campus located
  in the county a school counselor certified under Subchapter B,
  Chapter 21, to serve as a life skills counselor under the pilot
  program.
         (e)  A life skills counselor employed to serve at a high
  school campus under this section shall:
               (1)  collaborate with school district administrators,
  school counselors, social workers, other appropriately
  credentialed mental health professionals, and local law
  enforcement agencies to address mental health concerns affecting
  students at the high school campus; 
               (2)  provide instruction to students enrolled at the
  high school campus relating to skills and techniques to cope with
  anxiety, frustration, and other emotions;
               (3)  counsel any students enrolled at the high school
  campus who have committed a crime of violence or are identified as
  having a mental health condition; and
               (4)  establish a voluntary counseling program for
  students enrolled at the high school campus.
         (f)  A school district located in a county subject to this
  section may solicit and accept a gift, grant, or donation from any
  source, including a foundation, private entity, governmental
  entity, or institution of higher education to implement or
  administer the pilot program.
         (g)  Not later than January 1, 2025, the commissioner shall
  review the pilot program established under this section and submit
  to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house
  of representatives, and the presiding officer of each legislative
  standing committee with primary jurisdiction over primary and
  secondary education a written report regarding the progress made by
  the pilot program in addressing emotional and mental health
  concerns of students.
         (h)  The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to
  administer the pilot program.
         (i)  This section expires September 1, 2025.
         SECTION 2.  (a) Not later than December 1, 2019, the
  commissioner of education shall adopt rules necessary to implement
  and administer the life skills counselor pilot program established
  under Section 33.010, Education Code, as added by this Act.
         (b)  The life skills counselor pilot program established
  under Section 33.010, Education Code, as added by this Act, shall be
  implemented in each public high school located in a county subject
  to that section beginning with the 2020-2021 school year.
         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.