88R5149 KJE-D
By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 2478
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a student mental health apprenticeship retention and
training (SMART) internship grant program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter RR to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER RR. STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH APPRENTICESHIP RETENTION AND
TRAINING (SMART) INTERNSHIP GRANT PROGRAM
Sec. 61.9991. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "program"
means the student mental health apprenticeship retention and
training (SMART) internship grant program.
Sec. 61.9992. ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM.
The board shall establish and administer a student mental health
apprenticeship retention and training (SMART) internship grant
program to provide grants to:
(1) assist persons in obtaining certification or
licensure necessary for employment as certain school mental health
professionals; and
(2) facilitate the employment of those persons by a
public elementary or secondary school in this state.
Sec. 61.9993. INTERNSHIP GRANTS. To be eligible to receive
an internship grant under the program, a person must:
(1) apply to the board in the form and manner
prescribed by board rule;
(2) be enrolled at an institution of higher education
in a degree or certificate program leading to:
(A) certification as a school counselor under
Subchapter B, Chapter 21;
(B) a license in school psychology under Section
501.260, Occupations Code; or
(C) a social worker license under Chapter 505,
Occupations Code;
(3) be accepted into an internship program for school
counseling, school psychology, or social work, as applicable, at a
public primary or secondary school in this state at which at least
50 percent of enrolled students are educationally disadvantaged, as
defined by Section 5.001;
(4) enter into an agreement with the board as provided
by Section 61.9994; and
(5) satisfy any other criteria prescribed by the
board.
Sec. 61.9994. AGREEMENT FOR INTERNSHIP PARTICIPANTS. To
qualify for an internship grant under the program, a person must
enter into a written agreement with the board as provided by this
section. The agreement must require the person to:
(1) obtain, within the period prescribed by board
rule, certification or licensure described by Section 61.9993(2),
as applicable;
(2) accept, during the first school year that begins
after the date the person becomes certified or licensed as provided
by Subdivision (1), an offer of full-time employment in the
applicable profession in a public elementary or secondary school in
this state; and
(3) be employed in the applicable profession at a
public elementary or secondary school in this state for at least
three school years.
Sec. 61.9995. INTERNSHIP GRANT AWARDS. (a) The board shall
award an internship grant to each eligible person in an amount equal
to $25 per hour for each hour spent interning in an internship
program described by Section 61.9993(3), not to exceed a total of
$15,000.
(b) The board may award to a person receiving an internship
grant under the program an additional grant for student loan
repayment assistance if the board determines that extenuating
circumstances justify the assistance.
Sec. 61.9996. REIMBURSEMENT; EXCEPTIONS. (a) An
internship grant program participant who fails to meet the
requirements of Section 61.9994 shall reimburse the board for the
amount of any grants received by the participant under the program.
(b) The board by rule shall establish exceptions to the
reimbursement requirement under this section for participants who
are unable to meet the requirements of Section 61.9994 as a result
of an unusual hardship.
Sec. 61.9997. SUPERVISOR GRANTS. The board shall award a
grant to each person who supervises an internship grant program
participant in an internship program described by Section
61.9993(3) in an amount equal to $250 per participant supervised.
Sec. 61.9998. REPORT. Not later than September 1 of each
even-numbered year, the board shall submit to the legislature a
report on the program. The report must include an analysis of the
effectiveness of the program and any recommendations for
legislative or other action.
Sec. 61.9999. RULES. The board shall adopt rules necessary
for the administration of this subchapter.
SECTION 2. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
shall adopt rules for the administration of Subchapter RR, Chapter
61, Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable
after this Act takes effect.
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.