BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1114

By: Thierry

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been reported that around one in five adolescents in the United States shows significant symptoms of emotional distress, with nearly 10 percent having symptoms that impair everyday functioning. The presence of mental illness in children and adolescents, if not properly diagnosed and treated, increases the likelihood of health concerns as an adult and greatly limits their ability to maintain healthy relationships, employment, and housing.

Access to mental health services through comprehensive school-based programs can be effective in addressing these issues for students and families who might not otherwise be able to obtain needed care. H.B. 1114 seeks to improve access to mental health services by allowing public school districts and charter schools to develop models for the delivery of cooperative mental health programs for students and families through school-based health centers.

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

H.B. 1114 amends the Education Code to include mental health services and mental health education in the scope of services provided by school-based health centers established by public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools for students and their families. The bill requires a district board of trustees or the governing body of a charter school to appoint not later than January 1, 2022, at least one person who is a licensed mental health professional to the local health education and health care advisory council established by the district or school.

H.B. 1114 includes stabilizing the mental well-being of a student as a goal of all health care programs established under the school-based health center grant program administered by the commissioner of state health services. The bill requires the Department of State Health Services biennial report to the legislature about the relative efficacy of services delivered by school-based health centers and increased academic success at campuses served by those centers to include special emphasis on any improved student mental health.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.