83R4483 MEW-F
By: Coleman H.B. No. 3225
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to training for public school educators in identifying
mental health and suicide risks among students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 161.325, Health and Safety Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (c-1) and amending Subsection (d) to
read as follows:
(c-1) Each school district shall provide training described
in the components set forth under Subsection (b) for teachers,
counselors, principals, and all other appropriate personnel. A
school district may implement a program on the list to satisfy the
requirements of this subsection.
(d) The board of trustees of each school district shall
[may] adopt a policy concerning early mental health intervention
and suicide prevention that:
(1) establishes a procedure for providing notice of a
recommendation for early mental health intervention regarding a
student to a parent or guardian of the student within a reasonable
amount of time after the identification of early warning signs as
described by Subsection (b)(2);
(2) establishes a procedure for providing notice of a
student identified as at risk of committing suicide to a parent or
guardian of the student within a reasonable amount of time after the
identification of early warning signs as described by Subsection
(b)(2);
(3) establishes that the district may develop a
reporting mechanism and may designate at least one person to act as
a liaison officer in the district for the purposes of identifying
students in need of early mental health intervention or suicide
prevention; and
(4) sets out available counseling alternatives for a
parent or guardian to consider when their child is identified as
possibly being in need of early mental health intervention or
suicide prevention.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.