BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1144

By: Ramos

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, adolescent suicide was a growing problem in Texas. According to both the CDC and the Health and Human Services Commission, suicide is the second-leading cause of death for individuals between the ages of 10 and 17 in Texas. Adolescents are faced with a myriad of stressors at home and school that can compound to suicidal ideation if not identified, and these stressors have worsened due to the pandemic. Given how much of an adolescent's time is spent in school, numerous lives could be saved if educators were regularly trained on identifying signs of suicide risks and how to intervene in these situations. H.B. 1144 requires all public educators to be retrained on suicide prevention and other mental health topics at least every two years.

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. 1144 amends the Education Code to require the frequency of certain staff development training on suicide prevention and other mental health topics to be at least once every two years for existing educators at public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.