Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB649 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R4087 AND-F
2	2	By: West S.B. No. 649
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7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to the permissible uses of the school safety allotment and
10	10	the creation of a mental and behavioral health allotment under the
11	11	Foundation School Program.
12	12	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
13	13	SECTION 1. Section 48.115, Education Code, is amended by
14	14	amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (f) to read as
15	15	follows:
16	16	(b) Funds allocated under this section must be used to
17	17	improve school safety and security, including costs associated
18	18	with:
19	19	(1) securing school facilities in accordance with the
20	20	requirements of Section 37.351, including:
21	21	(A) improvements to school infrastructure;
22	22	(B) the use or installation of perimeter security
23	23	fencing conducive to a public school learning environment or
24	24	physical barriers, which may not include razor wire;
25	25	(C) exterior door and window safety and security
26	26	upgrades, including exterior door numbering and locking systems and
27	27	security film that provides resistance to a forced entry; and
28	28	(D) the purchase and maintenance of:
29	29	(i) security cameras and, if the district
30	30	has already installed security cameras, other security equipment,
31	31	including video surveillance as provided by Section 29.022; and
32	32	(ii) technology, including communications
33	33	systems or devices, such as silent panic alert devices, two-way
34	34	radios, or wireless Internet booster equipment, that facilitates
35	35	communication and information sharing between students, school
36	36	personnel, and first responders in an emergency;
37	37	(2) providing security for the district, including:
38	38	(A) employing school district peace officers,
39	39	private security officers, and school marshals; and
40	40	(B) collaborating with local law enforcement
41	41	agencies, such as entering into a memorandum of understanding for
42	42	the assignment of school resource officers to schools in the
43	43	district;
44	44	(3) school safety and security measures, including:
45	45	(A) active shooter and emergency response
46	46	training;
47	47	(B) prevention and treatment programs relating
48	48	to addressing adverse childhood experiences; and
49	49	(C) the prevention, identification, and
50	50	management of emergencies and threats, using evidence-based,
51	51	effective prevention practices and including the establishment of
52	52	[:
53	53	[(i) providing licensed counselors, social
54	54	workers, chaplains, and individuals trained in restorative
55	55	discipline and restorative justice practices;
56	56	[(ii) providing mental health personnel and
57	57	support, including chaplains;
58	58	[(iii) providing behavioral health
59	59	services, including services provided by chaplains;
60	60	[(iv) establishing] threat reporting
61	61	systems; and
62	62	[(v) developing and implementing programs
63	63	focused on restorative justice practices, culturally relevant
64	64	instruction, and providing mental health support, including
65	65	support provided by chaplains;]
66	66	(4) [providing programs related to suicide
67	67	prevention, intervention, and postvention, including programs
68	68	provided by chaplains; and
69	69	[(5)] employing a school safety director and other
70	70	personnel to manage and monitor school safety initiatives and the
71	71	implementation of school safety requirements for the district.
72	72	(f) Funds allocated under this section may not be used for
73	73	the provision of mental and behavioral health services.
74	74	SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 48, Education Code, is
75	75	amended by adding Section 48.117 to read as follows:
76	76	Sec. 48.117. MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ALLOTMENT. (a)
77	77	In this section, "student at risk of dropping out of school" has the
78	78	meaning assigned by Section 29.081(d).
79	79	(b) A school district is entitled to an annual allotment for
80	80	the provision of mental and behavioral health services in the
81	81	district in an amount equal to:
82	82	(1) the sum of:
83	83	(A) $100,000; and
84	84	(B) $70 for each enrolled student at risk of
85	85	dropping out of school; or
86	86	(2) a greater amount provided by appropriation.
87	87	(c) Funds allocated under this section must be used to:
88	88	(1) provide mental and behavioral health services to
89	89	students at risk of dropping out of school; and
90	90	(2) develop or enhance a comprehensive school mental
91	91	and behavioral health system that, through the implementation of
92	92	programs, practices, and procedures in accordance with Section
93	93	38.351, provides a tiered array of supports and services in the
94	94	educational setting that contribute to:
95	95	(A) a positive school climate;
96	96	(B) the development of skills related to managing
97	97	emotions, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and
98	98	responsible decision-making;
99	99	(C) the learning and well-being of students with
100	100	or at risk of mental health or substance use conditions;
101	101	(D) family and community engagement;
102	102	(E) reduced exclusionary discipline practices;
103	103	(F) the alleviation of mental or emotional
104	104	symptoms, illnesses, conditions, or disorders;
105	105	(G) the resolution of emotional, attitudinal, or
106	106	relational conflicts;
107	107	(H) the management of feelings, attitudes, or
108	108	behaviors that interfere with effective emotional, social, or
109	109	intellectual functioning;
110	110	(I) a continuum of care for improving school
111	111	performance; and
112	112	(J) staff wellness.
113	113	(d) Funds allocated under this section may be used to pay
114	114	for costs associated with:
115	115	(1) the salary of school personnel responsible for
116	116	planning, coordinating, delivering, or monitoring supports and
117	117	services described by Subsection (c), including:
118	118	(A) a registered nurse with a doctoral degree in
119	119	psychiatric nursing;
120	120	(B) a child psychiatrist;
121	121	(C) a licensed clinical social worker;
122	122	(D) a licensed master social worker under
123	123	clinical supervision;
124	124	(E) a licensed professional counselor;
125	125	(F) a licensed professional counselor associate
126	126	under the supervision of a Texas Behavioral Health Executive
127	127	Council-approved supervisor;
128	128	(G) a licensed marriage and family therapist; or
129	129	(H) a licensed marriage and family therapist
130	130	associate under clinical supervision;
131	131	(2) training school personnel regarding effective
132	132	practices and district and campus procedures to support student
133	133	mental and behavioral health;
134	134	(3) a contract-based collaborative effort or
135	135	partnership with one or more local community programs, agencies, or
136	136	providers; and
137	137	(4) telehealth services from mental and behavioral
138	138	health care providers, if sufficient in-person mental and
139	139	behavioral health care providers are not available.
140	140	(e) Funds allocated for purposes of this section may not be
141	141	used to supplant any other funds that may be provided for the same
142	142	purpose.
143	143	(f) In accordance with commissioner rule, each school
144	144	district shall annually submit through the Public Education
145	145	Information Management System (PEIMS) information regarding the
146	146	outcomes and expenditures related to funds allocated to the
147	147	district under this section.
148	148	(g) The commissioner shall annually publish a report
149	149	regarding the use of funds allocated under this section during the
150	150	preceding school year, including information regarding the
151	151	programs, personnel, and resources implemented, employed, or
152	152	purchased by school districts using the funds and other purposes
153	153	for which the funds were used.
154	154	(h) This section expires September 1, 2034.
155	155	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.