86R9023 GCB-D
By: Lucio S.B. No. 1563
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to identification and development of mental health
resources for students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 38, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter F to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER F. MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES
Sec. 38.251. RUBRIC TO IDENTIFY RESOURCES. (a) The agency
shall develop a rubric for use by regional education service
centers in identifying resources related to student mental health
that are available to schools in their respective regions. The
agency shall develop the rubric in conjunction with:
(1) the Health and Human Services Commission;
(2) the Department of Family and Protective Services;
(3) the Texas Juvenile Justice Department;
(4) the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;
(5) the Texas Workforce Commission; and
(6) any other state agency the agency considers
appropriate.
(b) The rubric developed by the agency must provide for the
identification of resources relating to:
(1) training and technical assistance on practices
that support the mental health of students;
(2) school-based programs that provide prevention or
intervention services to students;
(3) community-based programs that provide
school-based or school-connected prevention or intervention
services to students;
(4) school-based mental health providers; and
(5) public and private funding sources available to
address the mental health of students.
(c) Not later than December 1 of each odd-numbered year, the
agency shall revise the rubric as necessary to reflect changes in
resources that may be available to schools and provide the rubric to
each regional education service center.
Sec. 38.252. REGIONAL INVENTORY OF MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES.
(a) Each regional education service center shall use the rubric
developed under Section 38.251 to identify resources related to
student mental health available to schools in the center's region,
including evidence-based and promising programs and best
practices, that:
(1) create school environments that support the
social, emotional, and academic development of students;
(2) identify students who may need additional
behavioral or mental health support before issues arise;
(3) provide early, effective interventions to
students in need of additional support;
(4) connect students and their families to specialized
services in the school or community when needed; and
(5) assist schools in aligning resources necessary to
address the mental health of students.
(b) A regional education service center may consult with any
entity the center considers necessary in identifying resources
under Subsection (a), including:
(1) school districts;
(2) local mental health authorities;
(3) community mental health services providers;
(4) education groups;
(5) hospitals; and
(6) institutions of higher education.
(c) Not later than March 1 of each even-numbered year, each
regional education service center shall:
(1) use the revised rubric received from the agency
under Section 38.251 to identify, in the manner provided by this
section, any additional resources that may be available to schools
in the center's region; and
(2) submit to the agency a report on resources
identified through the process, including any additional resources
identified under Subdivision (1).
Sec. 38.253. STATEWIDE INVENTORY OF MENTAL HEALTH
RESOURCES. (a) The agency shall develop a list of statewide
resources available to school districts to address the mental
health of students, including:
(1) training and technical assistance on practices
that support the mental health of students;
(2) school-based programs that provide prevention or
intervention services to students;
(3) community-based programs that provide
school-based or school-connected prevention or intervention
services to students;
(4) school-based mental health providers; and
(5) public and private funding sources available to
address the mental health of students.
(b) In developing the list required under Subsection (a),
the agency shall collaborate with:
(1) the Health and Human Services Commission;
(2) the Department of Family and Protective Services;
(3) the Texas Juvenile Justice Department;
(4) the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board;
(5) the Texas Workforce Commission;
(6) hospitals or other health care providers;
(7) community service providers;
(8) parent, educator, and advocacy groups; and
(9) any entity the agency determines can assist the
agency in compiling the list.
(c) The agency shall include on the list any resource
available through an entity identified as a resource under
Subsection (b), including an entity described by Subsection (b),
that provides evidence-based and promising programs and best
practices that:
(1) create school environments that support the
social, emotional, and academic development of students;
(2) identify students who may need additional
behavioral or mental health support before issues arise;
(3) provide early, effective interventions to
students in need of additional support; and
(4) connect students and their families to specialized
services in the school or community when needed.
(d) The agency shall revise the list not later than March 1
of each even-numbered year.
Sec. 38.254. STATEWIDE PLAN FOR STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH. (a)
The agency shall develop a statewide plan to ensure all students
have access to adequate mental health resources. The agency shall
include in the plan:
(1) a description of any revisions made to the rubric
required by Section 38.251;
(2) the results of the most recent regional inventory
of mental health resources required by Section 38.252, including
any additional resources identified;
(3) the results of the most recent statewide inventory
of mental health resources required by Section 38.253, including
any additional resources identified;
(4) the agency's goals for student mental health
access to be applied across the state, including goals relating to:
(A) methods to objectively measure positive
school climate;
(B) increasing the availability of early,
effective school-based or school-connected mental health
interventions and resources for students in need of additional
support; and
(C) increasing the availability of referrals for
students and families to specialized services for students in need
of additional support outside the school;
(5) a list of actions the commissioner may take
without legislative action to help all districts reach the agency's
goals described by the plan; and
(6) recommendations to the legislature on methods to
ensure that all districts can meet the agency's goals described in
the plan through legislative appropriations or other action by the
legislature.
(b) In developing the agency's goals under Subsection
(a)(4), the agency shall consult with any person the agency
believes is necessary to the development of the goals, including:
(1) educators;
(2) mental health practitioners;
(3) advocacy groups; and
(4) parents.
(c) The agency shall revise the plan not later than April 1
of each even-numbered year.
(d) As soon as practicable after completing or revising the
plan, the agency shall:
(1) submit an electronic copy of the plan to the
legislature;
(2) post the plan on the agency's Internet website; and
(3) hold public meetings in each regional education
service center's region to present the statewide plan and shall
provide an opportunity for public comment at each meeting.
Sec. 38.255. AGENCY USE OF STATEWIDE PLAN. (a) The agency
shall use the statewide plan for student mental health required by
Section 38.254 to develop and revise the agency's long-term
strategic plan.
(b) The agency shall use the recommendations to the
legislature required by Section 38.254(a)(6) to develop each agency
legislative appropriations request.
Sec. 38.256. REPORTS TO LEGISLATURE. In addition to any
other information required to be provided to the legislature under
this chapter, not later than November 1 of each even-numbered year
the agency shall provide to the legislature:
(1) a description of any changes the agency has made to
the rubric required by Section 38.251; and
(2) an analysis of each region's progress toward
meeting the agency's goals developed under Section 38.254.
SECTION 2. (a) Not later than December 1, 2019, the Texas
Education Agency shall develop and distribute to each regional
education service center the rubric required by Section 38.251,
Education Code, as added by this Act.
(b) Not later than March 1, 2020:
(1) each regional education service center shall
complete the regional inventory of mental health resources required
by Section 38.252, Education Code, as added by this Act, and report
to the Texas Education Agency on the resources identified through
the inventory; and
(2) the Texas Education Agency shall complete the
statewide inventory of mental health resources required by Section
38.253, Education Code, as added by this Act, and develop a list of
resources available to school districts statewide to address the
mental health of students.
(c) Not later than April 1, 2020, the Texas Education Agency
shall develop the statewide plan for student mental health required
by Section 38.254, Education Code, as added by this Act, submit an
electronic copy of the plan to the legislature, and post the plan on
the agency's Internet website.
SECTION 3. 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, 2019.