89R2712 RDR-F
By: Menéndez S.B. No. 201
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to social workers employed by school districts.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 33, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 33.905 to read as follows:
Sec. 33.905. SOCIAL WORKERS. (a) In this section, "school
social work services" means services specialized to assist students
and families and designed to alleviate barriers to learning,
connect the home, the community, and the school, advocate for the
best interest and academic success of students, strengthen
relationships, and assist with basic and biopsychosocial needs.
(b) A social worker employed by a school district:
(1) shall:
(A) collaborate with district administrators and
other district professionals to enhance students' learning
environments;
(B) as appropriate, serve on district committees
that address education and safety issues for students; and
(C) collaborate with parents, teachers, district
administrators, and the community to develop and implement school
violence prevention, suicide prevention, and child abuse
identification strategies; and
(2) may provide:
(A) school social work services to students and
families in the district; and
(B) behavioral health referrals and group
intervention services as needed.
(c) The board of trustees of a school district may adopt a
policy that requires a social worker employed by the district to
spend at least 80 percent of the social worker's total work time on
duties described by this section.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026
school year.
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, 2025.