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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to mental health first aid training for certain school |
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district volunteers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 22.904(a), (b), and (c), Education |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a school |
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district shall require each district employee or volunteer who |
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regularly interacts with students enrolled at the district to |
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complete an evidence-based mental health training program designed |
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to provide instruction to participants regarding the recognition |
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and support of children and youth who experience a mental health or |
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substance use issue that may pose a threat to school safety. |
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(b) A school district may not require a district employee or |
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volunteer who has previously completed mental health training |
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offered by a local mental health authority under Section 1001.203, |
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Health and Safety Code, to complete the training required by this |
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section. |
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(c) From funds appropriated for the purpose, the agency |
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shall provide an allotment to each school district to assist the |
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district in complying with this section. The amount of an allotment |
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provided to a school district under this subsection may not exceed |
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the costs incurred by the district for employees' or volunteers' |
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travel, training fees, and compensation for the time spent |
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completing the training required by this section. The agency may |
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proportionally reduce each district's allotment if the amount |
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appropriated is insufficient to pay for all costs incurred by |
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districts under this subsection. |
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SECTION 2. Section 1001.203(a), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) To the extent money is appropriated for the purpose, the |
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commission shall make grants to local mental health authorities or |
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local behavioral health authorities to provide at no cost an |
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approved mental health first aid training program administered by |
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mental health first aid trainers to the following individuals at |
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the discretion of the authorities: |
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(1) school district employees and school resource |
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officers; |
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(2) employees of: |
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(A) an institution of higher education; |
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(B) an open-enrollment charter school; or |
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(C) a private school; |
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(3) employees and contractors of a child-care |
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facility; |
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(4) youth; |
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(5) individuals with direct and recurring contact with |
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students, including school district volunteers; |
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(6) first responders; |
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(7) military service members, veterans, or immediate |
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family members of military service members or veterans; |
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(8) judges and attorneys, as applicable based on the |
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practice of law of the judge or attorney; or |
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(9) contractors of an institution of higher education, |
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an open-enrollment charter school, a private school, or a school |
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district. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than September 1, 2026, each school |
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district shall ensure that each district volunteer described by |
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Section 22.904, Education Code, as amended by this Act, has |
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completed an evidence-based mental health first aid training |
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program as required by that section. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |