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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the provision of services by nonphysician mental health |
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professionals at school districts. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 38.0101, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 38.0101. [AUTHORITY TO EMPLOY OR CONTRACT WITH] |
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NONPHYSICIAN MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS [PROFESSIONAL]. (a) A |
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school district shall [may] employ or contract with one or more |
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nonphysician mental health professionals to provide services at |
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each district campus. A school district must provide at least one |
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nonphysician mental health professional for every 600 students at |
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each campus. |
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(b) A nonphysician mental health professional providing |
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services under this section shall implement a comprehensive mental |
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health program for the campus the professional serves and spend at |
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least 80 percent of the professional's total work time providing |
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direct or indirect mental health services to students. The |
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commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to administer this |
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subsection. |
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(c) In this section, "nonphysician mental health |
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professional" means: |
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(1) a psychologist licensed to practice in this state |
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and designated as a health-service provider; |
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(2) a registered nurse with a master's or doctoral |
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degree in psychiatric nursing; |
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(3) a licensed clinical social worker; |
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(4) a professional counselor licensed to practice in |
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this state; or |
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(5) a marriage and family therapist licensed to |
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practice in this state. |
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(d) Each school district must demonstrate to the agency |
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compliance with this section not later than August 1, 2025. This |
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subsection expires August 1, 2026. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |