85R5695 MM-D
By: Turner H.B. No. 3143
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to mental health professional staffing requirements at
certain public institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 51.9196 to read as follows:
Sec. 51.9196. MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL STAFFING
REQUIREMENT. (a) In this section:
(1) "General academic teaching institution" and
"public state college" have the meanings assigned by Section
61.003.
(2) "Mental health professional" has the meaning
assigned by Section 164.003, Health and Safety Code.
(b) This section applies only to a general academic teaching
institution other than a public state college.
(c) Beginning with the 2021-2022 academic year, an
institution to which this section applies shall ensure that at
least one full-time mental health professional is available at the
institution for every 1,500 students enrolled in a full course load
at the institution.
(c-1) Beginning with the 2018-2019 academic year, an
institution to which this section applies shall ensure that at
least one full-time mental health professional is available at the
institution for every 1,750 students enrolled in a full course load
at the institution. This subsection expires September 1, 2021.
(d) The mental health professional to student ratio
required by this section does not include students who attend the
institution through online coursework only.
(e) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
adopt rules as necessary to administer this section.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2017.