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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the School Psychologists Shortage |
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Task Force. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
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(1) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of |
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education. |
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(2) "Task force" means the School Psychologists |
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Shortage Task Force established under Section 2 of this Act. |
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SECTION 2. SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS SHORTAGE TASK FORCE. (a) |
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The commissioner shall establish the School Psychologists Shortage |
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Task Force to study issues related to the shortage of school |
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psychologists. |
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(b) The members of the task force must include: |
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(1) three members appointed by the lieutenant governor |
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as follows: |
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(A) two members of the senate; and |
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(B) one licensed specialist in school |
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psychology; |
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(2) three members appointed by the speaker of the |
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house of representatives as follows: |
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(A) two members of the house of representatives; |
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and |
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(B) one licensed specialist in school |
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psychology; and |
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(3) one member of the State Board of Education |
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appointed by the commissioner. |
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(c) The Texas Education Agency shall provide administrative |
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support to the task force. |
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(d) The commissioner shall appoint a member of the task |
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force to serve as the presiding officer. |
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(e) The task force shall meet at the call of the presiding |
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officer. |
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(f) The task force shall: |
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(1) conduct a study on the issues related to the |
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shortage of school psychologists among school districts, including |
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supply and demand issues for school-based psychological services |
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among districts; and |
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(2) provide recommendations for increasing the |
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presence of school psychologists in school districts and increasing |
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the use of school-based psychological services, as needed. |
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SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than December 31, 2022, the |
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task force shall submit a report to the governor and the legislature |
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that includes the task force's findings and recommendations under |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 4. ABOLITION OF TASK FORCE; EXPIRATION. The task |
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force is abolished and this Act expires January 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |