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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 Healthy Minds Campus program |
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by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 61.09093 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.09093. HEALTHY MINDS CAMPUS PROGRAM. (a) The board |
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shall establish and administer a Healthy Minds Campus program under |
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which the board shall designate a campus of an institution of higher |
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education as a Healthy Minds Campus if the institution: |
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(1) applies to the board in the manner prescribed by |
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board rule; |
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(2) designates a staff member of the institution as a |
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mental health liaison, whose duties include: |
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(A) identifying students enrolled at the |
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institution in need of prevention programs and telehealth services; |
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(B) determining appropriate evidence-based |
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mental health trainings for faculty and staff; |
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(C) gathering and reporting data to encourage |
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information sharing across institutions of higher education; and |
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(D) assisting in coordinating mental health |
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awareness events on campus; |
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(3) implements mental health awareness programs to |
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inform students about mental health conditions and available |
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resources; |
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(4) provides training for students, faculty, and staff |
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regarding recognizing and addressing the mental health needs of |
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students, which may include an evidence-based mental health first |
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aid training program; |
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(5) provides peer support programs to improve the |
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emotional well-being of students by using student peers to support |
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individuals living with mental health conditions on campus; and |
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(6) collaborates with local mental health service |
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providers in the campus's surrounding communities to improve mental |
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health services capacity. |
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(b) Under the Healthy Minds Campus program, the board may: |
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(1) provide access to mental health programs and |
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gather student mental health data for institutions with the Healthy |
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Minds Campus designation; and |
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(2) promote mental health resource sharing across |
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institutions of higher education. |
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(c) The board may adapt the rubric developed by the Texas |
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Education Agency under Section 38.251 for use by institutions of |
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higher education in implementing mental health services and |
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programs. |
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(d) The board shall adopt rules as necessary to administer |
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this section. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |