83R7861 MEW-D
By: Deuell S.B. No. 1178
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 Subsections (c-1) and (c-2) and amending
Subsection (d) to read as follows:
(c-1) Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, 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
is required to provide the training at an elementary school campus
only to the extent that sufficient funding and programs are
available. A school district may implement a program on the list to
satisfy the requirements of this subsection.
(c-2) For any training under Subsection (c-1), each school
district shall maintain records that include the name of each
district employee who participated in the training. A school
district employee described under Subsection (c-1) must
participate in the training at least one time.
(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. Subchapter O-1, Chapter 161, Health and Safety
Code, is amended by adding Section 161.326 to read as follows:
Sec. 161.326. IMMUNITY. This subchapter does not:
(1) waive any immunity from liability of a school
district or of district school officers or employees;
(2) create any liability for a cause of action against
a school district or against district school officers or employees;
or
(3) waive any immunity from liability under Section
74.151, Civil Practice and Remedies Code.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.