|  | 
         
            |  | 
         
            |  | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED | 
         
            |  | AN ACT | 
         
            |  | relating to social work services in public schools. | 
         
            |  | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
         
            |  | SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 33, Education Code, is | 
         
            |  | amended by adding Section 33.905 to read as follows: | 
         
            |  | Sec. 33.905.  SOCIAL WORK SERVICES.  (a)  In this section, | 
         
            |  | "social work services" means services specialized to assist | 
         
            |  | students and families and designed to alleviate barriers to | 
         
            |  | learning, connect the home, the community, and the school, advocate | 
         
            |  | for the best interest and academic success of students, strengthen | 
         
            |  | relationships, and assist with basic and psychosocial needs. | 
         
            |  | (b)  A social worker may provide social work services to | 
         
            |  | students and families in a school or district. | 
         
            |  | (c)  A social worker shall collaborate with school | 
         
            |  | administrators and other school professionals in order to enhance | 
         
            |  | students' learning environments. | 
         
            |  | SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022 | 
         
            |  | 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, 2021. |