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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a school psychologist licensed under the Occupations |
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Code. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 38.303(a), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The task force is composed of: |
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(1) the commissioner or the commissioner's designee; |
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(2) the following additional members appointed by the |
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commissioner: |
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(A) three parents of students who are enrolled in |
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school districts or open-enrollment charter schools and receive the |
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mental health services described by Section 38.302(1); |
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(B) one person who provides the mental health |
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services described by Section 38.302(1) or the training described |
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by Section 38.302(2) and who is: |
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(i) a licensed professional counselor, as |
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defined by Section 503.002, Occupations Code; |
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(ii) a licensed clinical social worker, as |
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defined by Section 505.002, Occupations Code; or |
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(iii) a school counselor certified under |
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Subchapter B, Chapter 21; |
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(C) one person who is a psychiatrist; |
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(D) two persons who are administrators of |
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districts or schools that provide the mental health services |
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described by Section 38.302(1) or the training described by Section |
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38.302(2); |
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(E) one person who is a member of a foundation |
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that invests in the mental health services described by Section |
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38.302(1) or the training described by Section 38.302(2); |
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(F) one person who is an employee of an |
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institution of higher education designated under Section 38.307; |
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and |
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(G) one person who is a [licensed specialist in] |
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school psychologist [psychology], as defined by Section 501.002, |
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Occupations Code; and |
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(3) for any other entity the task force considers |
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necessary, one person appointed by the task force for each such |
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entity. |
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SECTION 2. Section 61.601, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.601. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "mental |
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health professional" means: |
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(1) a licensed physician who is: |
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(A) a graduate of an accredited psychiatric |
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residency training program; or |
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(B) certified in psychiatry by: |
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(i) the American Board of Psychiatry and |
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Neurology; or |
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(ii) the American Osteopathic Board of |
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Neurology and Psychiatry; |
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(2) a psychologist, as defined by Section 501.002, |
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Occupations Code; |
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(3) a licensed professional counselor, as defined by |
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Section 503.002, Occupations Code; |
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(4) an advanced practice registered nurse, as defined |
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by Section 301.152, Occupations Code, who holds a nationally |
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recognized board certification in psychiatric or mental health |
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nursing; |
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(5) a licensed clinical social worker, as defined by |
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Section 505.002, Occupations Code; |
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(6) a [licensed specialist in] school psychologist |
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[psychology], as defined by Section 501.002, Occupations Code; |
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(7) a chemical dependency counselor, as defined by |
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Section 504.001, Occupations Code; and |
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(8) a licensed marriage and family therapist, as |
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defined by Section 502.002, Occupations Code. |
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SECTION 3. Section 61.607(b), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The total amount of repayment assistance received by a |
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mental health professional under this subchapter may not exceed: |
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(1) $160,000, for assistance from the state received |
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by a licensed physician; |
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(2) $80,000, for assistance from the state received |
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by: |
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(A) a psychologist; |
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(B) a licensed clinical social worker, if the |
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social worker has received a doctoral degree related to social |
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work; |
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(C) a licensed professional counselor, if the |
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counselor has received a doctoral degree related to counseling; or |
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(D) a licensed marriage and family therapist, if |
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the marriage and family therapist has received a doctoral degree |
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related to marriage and family therapy; |
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(3) $60,000, for assistance from the state received by |
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an advanced practice registered nurse; |
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(4) $40,000, for assistance from the state received |
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by: |
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(A) a licensed clinical social worker, a licensed |
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marriage and family therapist, or a licensed professional counselor |
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who is not described by Subdivision (2); or |
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(B) a [licensed specialist in] school |
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psychologist [psychology]; and |
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(5) $10,000, for assistance from the state received by |
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a licensed chemical dependency counselor, if the chemical |
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dependency counselor has received an associate degree related to |
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chemical dependency counseling or behavioral science. |
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SECTION 4. Section 411.12502(a), Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council is |
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entitled to obtain criminal history record information as provided |
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by Subsection (b) that relates to a person who is an applicant for |
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or licensed as: |
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(1) a licensed psychologist, licensed psychological |
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associate, or [licensed specialist in] school psychologist |
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[psychology] under Chapter 501, Occupations Code; |
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(2) a licensed marriage and family therapist or |
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licensed marriage and family therapist associate under Chapter 502, |
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Occupations Code; |
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(3) a licensed professional counselor or licensed |
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professional counselor associate under Chapter 503, Occupations |
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Code; or |
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(4) a licensed baccalaureate social worker, licensed |
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master social worker, or licensed clinical social worker under |
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Chapter 505, Occupations Code. |
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SECTION 5. Section 548.0203(a), Government Code, as |
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effective April 1, 2025, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) In this section, "health professional" means an |
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individual who is: |
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(1) licensed, registered, certified, or otherwise |
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authorized by this state to practice as a social worker, |
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occupational therapist, or speech-language pathologist; |
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(2) a licensed professional counselor; |
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(3) a licensed marriage and family therapist; or |
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(4) a [licensed specialist in] school psychologist, as |
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defined by Section 501.002, Occupations Code [psychology]. |
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SECTION 6. Section 501.002(2), Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(2) "School psychologist" ["Licensed specialist in |
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school psychology"] means a person who holds a license to engage in |
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the practice of psychology under Section 501.260. |
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SECTION 7. Section 501.051(a-1), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a-1) One of the members appointed under Subsection (a)(1) |
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or (a)(2) must practice as a [licensed specialist in] school |
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psychologist [psychology] under Section 501.260. |
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SECTION 8. The heading to Section 501.260, Occupations |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 501.260. [LICENSED SPECIALIST IN] SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST |
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[PSYCHOLOGY]. |
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SECTION 9. Sections 501.260(a) and (c), Occupations Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The executive council by rule shall issue a license to a |
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[licensed specialist in] school psychologist [psychology]. A |
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license issued under this section constitutes the appropriate |
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credential for a person who provides psychological services as |
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required by Section 21.003(b), Education Code. |
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(c) The rules of practice for a [licensed specialist in] |
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school psychologist [psychology] must comply with nationally |
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recognized standards for the practice of school psychology. |
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SECTION 10. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |