| 1 | 1 | | 88R5794 MM-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Plesa H.B. No. 3488 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to creating a mental health allotment under the Foundation |
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| 8 | 8 | | School Program. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 48, Education Code, is |
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| 11 | 11 | | amended by adding Section 48.117 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 48.117. MENTAL HEALTH ALLOTMENT. (a) For each student |
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| 13 | 13 | | in average daily attendance, a school district is entitled to an |
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| 14 | 14 | | annual allotment equal to the basic allotment multiplied by 0.008. |
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| 15 | 15 | | (b) At least 85 percent of the funds allocated under this |
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| 16 | 16 | | section must be used to establish and maintain appropriate mental |
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| 17 | 17 | | health supports for students in the district, including to pay |
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| 18 | 18 | | costs associated with: |
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| 19 | 19 | | (1) hiring and providing compensation for counselors, |
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| 20 | 20 | | social workers, and staff dedicated to student mental health; |
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| 21 | 21 | | (2) implementing screenings for adverse childhood |
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| 22 | 22 | | experiences and anxiety disorders for students who are eight years |
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| 23 | 23 | | of age, using tools selected by the agency based on guidance from |
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| 24 | 24 | | mental health professionals; |
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| 25 | 25 | | (3) selecting and implementing evidence-based |
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| 26 | 26 | | programs to provide a positive school climate and promote student |
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| 27 | 27 | | skills in dealing with bullying and conflicts, solving problems, |
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| 28 | 28 | | developing healthy peer relationships, and engaging in activities |
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| 29 | 29 | | to prevent suicide and substance use; and |
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| 30 | 30 | | (4) developing: |
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| 31 | 31 | | (A) early intervention services for students in |
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| 32 | 32 | | need of additional support, such as skill groups to deal with grief, |
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| 33 | 33 | | anger, anxiety, or sadness; |
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| 34 | 34 | | (B) treatment programs and services that address |
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| 35 | 35 | | the various mental health needs of students; |
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| 36 | 36 | | (C) student and family support and mental health |
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| 37 | 37 | | resources; |
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| 38 | 38 | | (D) a school culture in which teachers and other |
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| 39 | 39 | | student support staff are trained to recognize the early warning |
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| 40 | 40 | | signs of student mental health issues; and |
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| 41 | 41 | | (E) a mental health referral process to ensure |
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| 42 | 42 | | that all students have equal access to mental health services and |
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| 43 | 43 | | supports. |
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| 44 | 44 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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