89R15896 MM-D
By: Ward Johnson H.B. No. 5257
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to mental health first aid training for certain school
district volunteers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 22.904(a), (b), and (c), Education
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a school
district shall require each district employee or volunteer who
regularly interacts with students enrolled at the district to
complete an evidence-based mental health training program designed
to provide instruction to participants regarding the recognition
and support of children and youth who experience a mental health or
substance use issue that may pose a threat to school safety.
(b) A school district may not require a district employee or
volunteer who has previously completed mental health training
offered by a local mental health authority under Section 1001.203,
Health and Safety Code, to complete the training required by this
section.
(c) From funds appropriated for the purpose, the agency
shall provide an allotment to each school district to assist the
district in complying with this section. The amount of an allotment
provided to a school district under this subsection may not exceed
the costs incurred by the district for employees' or volunteers'
travel, training fees, and compensation for the time spent
completing the training required by this section. The agency may
proportionally reduce each district's allotment if the amount
appropriated is insufficient to pay for all costs incurred by
districts under this subsection.
SECTION 2. Section 1001.203(a), Health and Safety Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) To the extent money is appropriated for the purpose, the
commission shall make grants to local mental health authorities or
local behavioral health authorities to provide at no cost an
approved mental health first aid training program administered by
mental health first aid trainers to the following individuals at
the discretion of the authorities:
(1) school district employees and school resource
officers;
(2) employees of:
(A) an institution of higher education;
(B) an open-enrollment charter school; or
(C) a private school;
(3) employees and contractors of a child-care
facility;
(4) youth;
(5) individuals with direct and recurring contact with
students, including school district volunteers;
(6) first responders;
(7) military service members, veterans, or immediate
family members of military service members or veterans;
(8) judges and attorneys, as applicable based on the
practice of law of the judge or attorney; or
(9) contractors of an institution of higher education,
an open-enrollment charter school, a private school, or a school
district.
SECTION 3. Not later than September 1, 2026, each school
district shall ensure that each district volunteer described by
Section 22.904, Education Code, as amended by this Act, has
completed an evidence-based mental health first aid training
program as required by that section.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.