Relating to the licensing of certain education professionals as licensed specialists in school psychology.
If enacted, HB1660 would significantly impact the state's approach to handling psychological services in education, potentially increasing access to mental health support for students. The bill is intended to bolster the qualifications of professionals who work with students needing psychological services, thereby aligning the state's licensing requirements with the needs of the educational sector. The involvement of a broad range of educational professionals in the licensing process seeks to ensure that school psychologists possess a comprehensive understanding of the educational environment and the mental health challenges faced by students.
House Bill 1660 proposes to introduce a licensing framework for certain education professionals to practice as licensed specialists in school psychology in Texas. The bill aims to expand the pool of qualified professionals who can provide psychological services in schools by allowing educational diagnosticians, occupational therapists, school counselors, social workers, special education teachers, and speech-language pathologists to obtain this license. Importantly, the bill includes provisions for the establishment of rules by the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council in collaboration with the Texas Education Agency to define the necessary competencies, training, and education required for licensure.
There may be some contention surrounding the implementation of this legislation, primarily regarding the sufficiency and appropriateness of the training and education requirements that will be set forth by the executive council. Stakeholders might have differing opinions on what qualifications are necessary for these roles. Moreover, concerns could arise about the additional burden on educational professionals seeking licensure and the potential impact this could have on staffing in schools, especially in underserved areas where access to licensed specialists is already limited.