86R9023 GCB-D

By: Allison H.B. No. 4414

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to identification and development of mental health resources for students.

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. MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

Sec. 38.251. RUBRIC TO IDENTIFY RESOURCES. (a) The agency shall develop a rubric for use by regional education service centers in identifying resources related to student mental health that are available to schools in their respective regions. The agency shall develop the rubric in conjunction with:

(1) the Health and Human Services Commission;

(2) the Department of Family and Protective Services;

(3) the Texas Juvenile Justice Department;

(4) the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;

(5) the Texas Workforce Commission; and

(6) any other state agency the agency considers appropriate.

(b) The rubric developed by the agency must provide for the identification of resources relating to:

(1) training and technical assistance on practices that support the mental health of students;

(2) school-based programs that provide prevention or intervention services to students;

(3) community-based programs that provide school-based or school-connected prevention or intervention services to students;

(4) school-based mental health providers; and

(5) public and private funding sources available to address the mental health of students.

(c) Not later than December 1 of each odd-numbered year, the agency shall revise the rubric as necessary to reflect changes in resources that may be available to schools and provide the rubric to each regional education service center.

Sec. 38.252. REGIONAL INVENTORY OF MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES. (a) Each regional education service center shall use the rubric developed under Section 38.251 to identify resources related to student mental health available to schools in the center's region, including evidence-based and promising programs and best practices, that:

(1) create school environments that support the social, emotional, and academic development of students;

(2) identify students who may need additional behavioral or mental health support before issues arise;

(3) provide early, effective interventions to students in need of additional support;

(4) connect students and their families to specialized services in the school or community when needed; and

(5) assist schools in aligning resources necessary to address the mental health of students.

(b) A regional education service center may consult with any entity the center considers necessary in identifying resources under Subsection (a), including:

(1) school districts;

(2) local mental health authorities;

(3) community mental health services providers;

(4) education groups;

(5) hospitals; and

(6) institutions of higher education.

(c) Not later than March 1 of each even-numbered year, each regional education service center shall:

(1) use the revised rubric received from the agency under Section 38.251 to identify, in the manner provided by this section, any additional resources that may be available to schools in the center's region; and

(2) submit to the agency a report on resources identified through the process, including any additional resources identified under Subdivision (1).

Sec. 38.253. STATEWIDE INVENTORY OF MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES. (a) The agency shall develop a list of statewide resources available to school districts to address the mental health of students, including:

(1) training and technical assistance on practices that support the mental health of students;

(2) school-based programs that provide prevention or intervention services to students;

(3) community-based programs that provide school-based or school-connected prevention or intervention services to students;

(4) school-based mental health providers; and

(5) public and private funding sources available to address the mental health of students.

(b) In developing the list required under Subsection (a), the agency shall collaborate with:

(1) the Health and Human Services Commission;

(2) the Department of Family and Protective Services;

(3) the Texas Juvenile Justice Department;

(4) the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;

(5) the Texas Workforce Commission;

(6) hospitals or other health care providers;

(7) community service providers;

(8) parent, educator, and advocacy groups; and

(9) any entity the agency determines can assist the agency in compiling the list.

(c) The agency shall include on the list any resource available through an entity identified as a resource under Subsection (b), including an entity described by Subsection (b), that provides evidence-based and promising programs and best practices that:

(1) create school environments that support the social, emotional, and academic development of students;

(2) identify students who may need additional behavioral or mental health support before issues arise;

(3) provide early, effective interventions to students in need of additional support; and

(4) connect students and their families to specialized services in the school or community when needed.

(d) The agency shall revise the list not later than March 1 of each even-numbered year.

Sec. 38.254. STATEWIDE PLAN FOR STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH. (a) The agency shall develop a statewide plan to ensure all students have access to adequate mental health resources. The agency shall include in the plan:

(1) a description of any revisions made to the rubric required by Section 38.251;

(2) the results of the most recent regional inventory of mental health resources required by Section 38.252, including any additional resources identified;

(3) the results of the most recent statewide inventory of mental health resources required by Section 38.253, including any additional resources identified;

(4) the agency's goals for student mental health access to be applied across the state, including goals relating to:

(A) methods to objectively measure positive school climate;

(B) increasing the availability of early, effective school-based or school-connected mental health interventions and resources for students in need of additional support; and

(C) increasing the availability of referrals for students and families to specialized services for students in need of additional support outside the school;

(5) a list of actions the commissioner may take without legislative action to help all districts reach the agency's goals described by the plan; and

(6) recommendations to the legislature on methods to ensure that all districts can meet the agency's goals described in the plan through legislative appropriations or other action by the legislature.

(b) In developing the agency's goals under Subsection (a)(4), the agency shall consult with any person the agency believes is necessary to the development of the goals, including:

(1) educators;

(2) mental health practitioners;

(3) advocacy groups; and

(4) parents.

(c) The agency shall revise the plan not later than April 1 of each even-numbered year.

(d) As soon as practicable after completing or revising the plan, the agency shall:

(1) submit an electronic copy of the plan to the legislature;

(2) post the plan on the agency's Internet website; and

(3) hold public meetings in each regional education service center's region to present the statewide plan and shall provide an opportunity for public comment at each meeting.

Sec. 38.255. AGENCY USE OF STATEWIDE PLAN. (a) The agency shall use the statewide plan for student mental health required by Section 38.254 to develop and revise the agency's long-term strategic plan.

(b) The agency shall use the recommendations to the legislature required by Section 38.254(a)(6) to develop each agency legislative appropriations request.

Sec. 38.256. REPORTS TO LEGISLATURE. In addition to any other information required to be provided to the legislature under this chapter, not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year the agency shall provide to the legislature:

(1) a description of any changes the agency has made to the rubric required by Section 38.251; and

(2) an analysis of each region's progress toward meeting the agency's goals developed under Section 38.254.

SECTION 2. (a) Not later than December 1, 2019, the Texas Education Agency shall develop and distribute to each regional education service center the rubric required by Section 38.251, Education Code, as added by this Act.

(b) Not later than March 1, 2020:

(1) each regional education service center shall complete the regional inventory of mental health resources required by Section 38.252, Education Code, as added by this Act, and report to the Texas Education Agency on the resources identified through the inventory; and

(2) the Texas Education Agency shall complete the statewide inventory of mental health resources required by Section 38.253, Education Code, as added by this Act, and develop a list of resources available to school districts statewide to address the mental health of students.

(c) Not later than April 1, 2020, the Texas Education Agency shall develop the statewide plan for student mental health required by Section 38.254, Education Code, as added by this Act, submit an electronic copy of the plan to the legislature, and post the plan on the agency's Internet website.

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.