| 1 | 1 | | 89R1971 BEE-F |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Allen H.B. No. 2157 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | relating to the licensing of a psychologist as a licensed |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | specialist in school psychology; authorizing a fee. |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Section 501.260, Occupations Code, is amended by |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (b-1) and (d) to |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | read as follows: |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | (b) The executive council shall set the standards to qualify |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | for a license under this section. Except as provided by Subsection |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | (b-1), [The] standards must include: |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | (1) satisfaction of minimum recognized graduate |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | degree requirements; |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | (2) completion of graduate course work at a regionally |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | accredited institution of higher education in: |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | (A) psychological foundations; |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | (B) educational foundations; |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | (C) interventions; |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | (D) assessments; and |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | (E) professional issues and ethics; |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | (3) completion of at least 1,200 hours of supervised |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | experience; |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | (4) receipt of a passing score on a nationally |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | recognized qualifying examination determined to be appropriate by |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | the executive council and on any other examination required by the |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | executive council; and |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | (5) satisfaction of the requirements under Sections |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | 501.2525(a)(3)-(9). |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | (b-1) The executive council by rule shall provide for the |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | issuance of a license under this section to a person who: |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | (1) is licensed as a psychologist under this chapter; |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | (2) has received a passing score on a nationally |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | recognized qualifying examination determined to be appropriate by |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | the executive council and on any other examination required by the |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | executive council; |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | (3) applies for the license in the manner prescribed |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | by the executive council; and |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | (4) pays the fee set by the executive council. |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | (d) The executive council by rule may establish continuing |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | education requirements for a psychologist who holds a license |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | issued under this section in accordance with Subsection (b-1), |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | including continuing education coursework in an amount and |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | frequency established by the executive council that is related to: |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | (1) the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | (20 U.S.C. Section 1400 et seq.); |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | (2) Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | Section 794); |
|---|
| 54 | 54 | | (3) special education evaluations; and |
|---|
| 55 | 55 | | (4) school-based psychological services. |
|---|
| 56 | 56 | | SECTION 2. The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council |
|---|
| 57 | 57 | | shall adopt rules and fees necessary to implement Sections |
|---|
| 58 | 58 | | 501.260(b-1) and (d), Occupations Code, as added by this Act, not |
|---|
| 59 | 59 | | later than January 1, 2026. |
|---|
| 60 | 60 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
|---|