BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1401 89R8153 MM-F By: West Education K-16 3/26/2025 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Texas' mental healthcare workforce is currently underdeveloped and requires prompt action to accommodate a growing mental health crisis in this state. According to the Health and Human Services Commission Health Profession Shortage Area maps, 246 out of 254 counties in Texas are designated as mental health professional shortage areas. The mental health profession workforce shortage is expected to grow in the next decade; based on projections from the Health Professions Resource Center supply and demand report, the mental health profession shortage could grow from 11,449 in 2023 to 33,558 in 2036. Current legislative efforts to address the shortage may require additional non-financial resources to ensure the state can reverse this trend. The legislature has provided financial incentives to develop this critical workforce area. For example, the Mental Health Loan Repayment Program (MHLRP), under Section 61.101 of the Texas Education Code, provides loan repayment for select mental health professionals. Six of the eight professions eligible for loan repayment, however, require graduate education to become licensed. Texas is also poised to provide financial support to schools to expand the mental health professional pipeline; established under Texas Education Code, Subchapter RR, the Behavioral Health Innovation Grant would support institutional development. If funded, this grant program would be awarded to programs that would, among other characteristics, enhance or leverage existing programs graduating professionals who are eligible for the MHRLP or partner with another institution to develop a joint program. While the legislature may develop loan repayment programs or incentivize institutions to expand their mental health-related programs, the pathway to becoming a licensed mental health professional has become no easier. The legislature must ensure students can successfully move through mental health related programs in minimal time and with maximum efficiency to address a growing and ongoing mental health crisis. S.B. 1401 directs the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to create the Texas Mental Health Professional Pipeline Program (pipeline program). A participating four-year institution will provide clear, guided pathways for public junior college students to pursue the degrees required to be licensed as a mental health professional. Under the bill, the eligible mental health professions include a psychologist, a licensed professional counselor, an advanced practice registered nurse who holds a certification in psychiatric mental health care, a licensed master social worker, a licensed specialist in school psychology, and a licensed marriage and family therapist. A participating four-year institution developing a pipeline program will be required to partner with one or more public junior colleges to develop a guided program of study. The participating institution will ensure that a transferring public junior college student will be able to: Transfer to the four-year institution with zero credit loss; Graduate with a bachelor's degree within two years of transferring; Be automatically admitted into a graduate degree program; and Automatic admissions will be contingent on the student meeting minimum academic requirements set by the institution and on the institution's instructional capacity based on applicable state, federal, accrediting organization, or institutional policy and the availability of clinical placements. THECB will designate programs that qualify as Texas Mental Health Professional Pipeline Programs. THECB will post on its website information that clearly displays a list of each pipeline program, a list of each participating institution, a map displaying the location of each pipeline program, and the data listed below. Each participating institution will be required to submit to THECB an annual report including: The total number of students in the institution's pipeline program, the number of students in the program who transferred with zero credit loss; The number of students who earned their bachelor's degree within two years of transferring; The capacity of the institution to include more students in the pipeline program; The financial resources allocated by the institution to increase the number of students who can participate in the pipeline program; and The average time for a student to complete the program from the date they begin in community college to the date they graduate from a graduate degree program. As proposed, S.B. 1401 amends current law relating to the creation of the Texas Mental Health Profession Pipeline Program by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in SECTION 1 (Section 61.070, Education Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, by adding Section 61.070, as follows: Sec. 61.070. TEXAS MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSION PIPELINE PROGRAM. (a) Defines "participating institution." (b) Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to establish the Texas Mental Health Profession Pipeline Program (pipeline program) and encourage participating institutions to develop pipeline programs for the purpose of providing a clear, guided program of study for public junior college students to transfer to a participating institution to pursue a baccalaureate degree or a postbaccalaureate degree or certificate leading to licensure and practice as certain licensed mental health professionals. (c) Requires a participating institution that develops a pipeline program under Subsection (b) to: (1) partner with one or more public junior colleges to create a guided program of study for public junior college students; and (2) ensure that a public junior college student who transfers to the participating institution: (A) does not lose any credits earned before transferring; (B) can earn a baccalaureate degree in less than two years following the transfer; and (C) after earning a baccalaureate degree, is automatically admitted to a postbaccalaureate degree or certificate program at the participating institution if certain requirements are met. (d) Requires THECB to designate a program of study that meets the requirements of Subsection (c) as a pipeline program. (e) Requires THECB to maintain on THECB's Internet website information that clearly displays certain information about the institutions participating in the pipeline program. (f) Requires each participating institution to submit an annual report to THECB that includes certain information about the students and institutions participating in the pipeline program. (g) Requires THECB to adopt rules consistent with this section as necessary to implement this section, including rules for designating pipeline programs as described by Subsection (d). SECTION 2. Requires THECB to adopt rules as required by Section 61.070(g), Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1401
89R8153 MM-F By: West
Education K-16
3/26/2025
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 1401
89R8153 MM-F
By: West
Education K-16
3/26/2025
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Texas' mental healthcare workforce is currently underdeveloped and requires prompt action to accommodate a growing mental health crisis in this state. According to the Health and Human Services Commission Health Profession Shortage Area maps, 246 out of 254 counties in Texas are designated as mental health professional shortage areas. The mental health profession workforce shortage is expected to grow in the next decade; based on projections from the Health Professions Resource Center supply and demand report, the mental health profession shortage could grow from 11,449 in 2023 to 33,558 in 2036. Current legislative efforts to address the shortage may require additional non-financial resources to ensure the state can reverse this trend.
The legislature has provided financial incentives to develop this critical workforce area. For example, the Mental Health Loan Repayment Program (MHLRP), under Section 61.101 of the Texas Education Code, provides loan repayment for select mental health professionals. Six of the eight professions eligible for loan repayment, however, require graduate education to become licensed.
Texas is also poised to provide financial support to schools to expand the mental health professional pipeline; established under Texas Education Code, Subchapter RR, the Behavioral Health Innovation Grant would support institutional development. If funded, this grant program would be awarded to programs that would, among other characteristics, enhance or leverage existing programs graduating professionals who are eligible for the MHRLP or partner with another institution to develop a joint program.
While the legislature may develop loan repayment programs or incentivize institutions to expand their mental health-related programs, the pathway to becoming a licensed mental health professional has become no easier. The legislature must ensure students can successfully move through mental health related programs in minimal time and with maximum efficiency to address a growing and ongoing mental health crisis.
S.B. 1401 directs the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to create the Texas Mental Health Professional Pipeline Program (pipeline program). A participating four-year institution will provide clear, guided pathways for public junior college students to pursue the degrees required to be licensed as a mental health professional.
Under the bill, the eligible mental health professions include a psychologist, a licensed professional counselor, an advanced practice registered nurse who holds a certification in psychiatric mental health care, a licensed master social worker, a licensed specialist in school psychology, and a licensed marriage and family therapist.
A participating four-year institution developing a pipeline program will be required to partner with one or more public junior colleges to develop a guided program of study. The participating institution will ensure that a transferring public junior college student will be able to:
Transfer to the four-year institution with zero credit loss;
Graduate with a bachelor's degree within two years of transferring;
Be automatically admitted into a graduate degree program; and
Automatic admissions will be contingent on the student meeting minimum academic requirements set by the institution and on the institution's instructional capacity based on applicable state, federal, accrediting organization, or institutional policy and the availability of clinical placements.
THECB will designate programs that qualify as Texas Mental Health Professional Pipeline Programs. THECB will post on its website information that clearly displays a list of each pipeline program, a list of each participating institution, a map displaying the location of each pipeline program, and the data listed below.
Each participating institution will be required to submit to THECB an annual report including:
The total number of students in the institution's pipeline program, the number of students in the program who transferred with zero credit loss;
The number of students who earned their bachelor's degree within two years of transferring;
The capacity of the institution to include more students in the pipeline program;
The financial resources allocated by the institution to increase the number of students who can participate in the pipeline program; and
The average time for a student to complete the program from the date they begin in community college to the date they graduate from a graduate degree program.
As proposed, S.B. 1401 amends current law relating to the creation of the Texas Mental Health Profession Pipeline Program by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in SECTION 1 (Section 61.070, Education Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, by adding Section 61.070, as follows:
Sec. 61.070. TEXAS MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSION PIPELINE PROGRAM. (a) Defines "participating institution."
(b) Requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) to establish the Texas Mental Health Profession Pipeline Program (pipeline program) and encourage participating institutions to develop pipeline programs for the purpose of providing a clear, guided program of study for public junior college students to transfer to a participating institution to pursue a baccalaureate degree or a postbaccalaureate degree or certificate leading to licensure and practice as certain licensed mental health professionals.
(c) Requires a participating institution that develops a pipeline program under Subsection (b) to:
(1) partner with one or more public junior colleges to create a guided program of study for public junior college students; and
(2) ensure that a public junior college student who transfers to the participating institution:
(A) does not lose any credits earned before transferring;
(B) can earn a baccalaureate degree in less than two years following the transfer; and
(C) after earning a baccalaureate degree, is automatically admitted to a postbaccalaureate degree or certificate program at the participating institution if certain requirements are met.
(d) Requires THECB to designate a program of study that meets the requirements of Subsection (c) as a pipeline program.
(e) Requires THECB to maintain on THECB's Internet website information that clearly displays certain information about the institutions participating in the pipeline program.
(f) Requires each participating institution to submit an annual report to THECB that includes certain information about the students and institutions participating in the pipeline program.
(g) Requires THECB to adopt rules consistent with this section as necessary to implement this section, including rules for designating pipeline programs as described by Subsection (d).
SECTION 2. Requires THECB to adopt rules as required by Section 61.070(g), Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2025.