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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to mental health professional staffing requirements at law |
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schools at public institutions of higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.9197 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.9197. MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL STAFFING |
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REQUIREMENT. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 61.003. |
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(2) "Mental health professional" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 164.003, Health and Safety Code. |
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(b) Each law school at an institution of higher education |
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shall ensure that at least one full-time equivalent mental health |
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professional is available at the school. |
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(c) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall |
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adopt rules as necessary to administer this section. |
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SECTION 2. Section 51.9197, Education Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies beginning with the 2023-2024 academic year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |