88R14405 MM-D
By: Miles S.B. No. 2047
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to creating a mental health allotment under the Foundation
School Program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 48, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 48.117 to read as follows:
Sec. 48.117. MENTAL HEALTH ALLOTMENT. (a) In this section,
"mental health services" means assessment, diagnosis, treatment,
or counseling by a mental health professional to assist a student
in:
(1) alleviating mental or emotional illness,
symptoms, conditions, or disorders, including alcohol or drug
addiction;
(2) understanding conscious or subconscious
motivations;
(3) resolving emotional, attitudinal, or relationship
conflicts; or
(4) modifying feelings, attitudes, or behaviors that
interfere with effective emotional, social, or intellectual
functioning.
(b) This section applies only to a school district in which
not less than 60 percent of the campuses in the district offer
students access to mental health services.
(c) From funds appropriated or otherwise available for the
purpose, the commissioner may provide to a school district to which
this section applies an annual allotment for each student who
accesses mental health services through the district in an amount
equal to the district's basic allotment or, if applicable, the sum
of the basic allotment and the allotment under Section 48.101 to
which the district is entitled, multiplied by a weight in an amount
determined by the commissioner based on criteria related to the
cost of providing those services.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.