By: Jetton H.B. No. 3142
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a counseling certification
incentive program for school nurses by the Texas Education Agency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 33.010 to read as follows:
Sec. 33.010. COUNSELING CERTIFICATION INCENTIVE PROGRAM.
(a) From funds appropriated or otherwise available for the
purpose, the agency shall establish and administer a program to
provide salary bonuses to eligible school nurses employed by school
districts who complete counseling certifications related to
addressing student mental health needs.
(b) The commissioner by rule shall establish eligibility
criteria to receive a salary bonus under this section.
(c) The agency may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and
donations from any public or private source for the purpose of this
section.
(d) The commissioner shall adopt rules to establish and
administer the incentive program under this section.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the Texas Education Agency shall establish the
counseling certification incentive program under Section 33.010,
Education Code, as added by this Act.
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, 2023.