88R14405 MM-D
 
  By: Miles S.B. No. 2047
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to creating a mental health allotment under the Foundation
  School Program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 48, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 48.117 to read as follows:
         Sec. 48.117.  MENTAL HEALTH ALLOTMENT. (a) In this section,
  "mental health services" means assessment, diagnosis, treatment,
  or counseling by a mental health professional to assist a student
  in:
               (1)  alleviating mental or emotional illness,
  symptoms, conditions, or disorders, including alcohol or drug
  addiction;
               (2)  understanding conscious or subconscious
  motivations;
               (3)  resolving emotional, attitudinal, or relationship
  conflicts; or
               (4)  modifying feelings, attitudes, or behaviors that
  interfere with effective emotional, social, or intellectual
  functioning.
         (b)  This section applies only to a school district in which
  not less than 60 percent of the campuses in the district offer
  students access to mental health services.
         (c)  From funds appropriated or otherwise available for the
  purpose, the commissioner may provide to a school district to which
  this section applies an annual allotment for each student who
  accesses mental health services through the district in an amount
  equal to the district's basic allotment or, if applicable, the sum
  of the basic allotment and the allotment under Section 48.101 to
  which the district is entitled, multiplied by a weight in an amount
  determined by the commissioner based on criteria related to the
  cost of providing those services.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.