Thompson Bill Extends School Mental Health Task Force To 2031

The text as introduced · 1,376 words

89R8914 JDK-F

By: Thompson
H.B. No. 3536

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the Collaborative Task Force on Public School Mental

Health Services.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 38.302, Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 38.302. ESTABLISHMENT. The Collaborative Task Force

on Public School Mental Health Services is established to study and

evaluate:

(1) mental health services that are funded by this

state and provided at a school district or open-enrollment charter

school for purposes of Sections 37.115 and 38.351 directly to:

(A) a student enrolled in the district or school;

(B) a parent or family member of or person

standing in parental relation to a student enrolled in the district

or school; or

(C) an employee of the district or school;

(2) training provided to an educator employed by the

district or school to provide the mental health services described

by Subdivision (1); and

(3) the impact the mental health services described by

Subdivision (1) have on:

(A) the number of violent incidents that occur at

school districts or open-enrollment charter schools;

(B) the suicide rate of the individuals who are

provided the mental health services described by Subdivision (1);

(C) the number of public school students referred

to the Department of Family and Protective Services for

investigation services and the reasons for those referrals;

(D) the number of individuals who are transported

from each school district or open-enrollment charter school for an

emergency detention under Chapter 573, Health and Safety Code;

[ and ]

(E) the number of public school students referred

to outside providers for mental health care, including outside

counselors referred to in accordance with Section 38.010 ; and

(F) fostering a positive school climate as

defined by Section 38.351(d) .

SECTION 2. Subchapter F-1, Chapter 38, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 38.3031 to read as follows:

Sec. 38.3031. TERMS; VACANCY. (a) Members of the task

force serve staggered three-year terms. A member may serve more

than one term.

(b) A vacancy on the task force shall be filled in the same

manner as the original placement or appointment, as applicable.

SECTION 3. Section 38.308(a), Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(a) The task force shall:

(1) gather data on:

(A) the number of students enrolled in each

school district and open-enrollment charter school;

(B) the number of individuals to whom each school

district or open-enrollment charter school provides the mental

health services described by Section 38.302(1);

(C) the number of individuals for whom each

school district or open-enrollment charter school has the resources

to provide the mental health services described by Section

38.302(1);

(D) the number of individuals described by

Paragraph (B) who are referred to an inpatient or outpatient mental

health provider;

(E) the number of individuals who are transported

from each school district or open-enrollment charter school for an

emergency detention under Chapter 573, Health and Safety Code;

(F) the race, ethnicity, gender, special

education status, educationally disadvantaged status, and

geographic location of:

(i) individuals who are provided the mental

health services described by Section 38.302(1);

(ii) individuals who are described by

Paragraph (D);

(iii) individuals who are described by

Paragraph (E);

(iv) individuals who are described by

Paragraph (H); [ and ]

(v) individuals who are described by

Paragraph (I);

(vi) individuals who are described by

Paragraph (L)(ii);

(vii) individuals who are described by

Paragraph (M)(iii); and

(viii) individuals who are described by

Paragraph (N)(iii);

(G) mental health services and trainings

provided by:

(i) school districts, at both the campus

and district level; and

(ii) open-enrollment charter schools;

(H) the number of individuals who were placed in

a disciplinary alternative education program or out-of-school

suspension or expelled;

(I) the number of threat assessments conducted

under Section 37.115; [ and ]

(J) the number of reports made from each school

district or open-enrollment charter school by an employee of the

district or school or by a school resource officer, to the

Department of Family and Protective Services regarding an alleged

incident of abuse or neglect;

(K) the mental health supports and services

offered directly to students by a school district or

open-enrollment charter school through the systemic and

coordinated multitiered support system for mental health under

Section 37.115 and in accordance with Section 38.351;

(L) the number of referrals to mental health

supports and services offered directly to students by a school

district or open-enrollment charter school through the systemic and

coordinated multitiered support system for mental health under

Section 37.115 and in accordance with Section 38.351, including:

(i) the number of referrals resulting from

a threat assessment; and

(ii) the number of students who received

the support or service to which the student was referred;

(M) the number of referrals to a partner or

community-based provider, including:

(i) the number of referrals made to each

provider;

(ii) the number of referrals resulting from

a threat assessment; and

(iii) the number of students who received

the support or service to which the student was referred; and

(N) the number of referrals to a psychiatric

hospital, acute care hospital, or emergency room to address acute

mental health risks, including:

(i) the number of referrals made to each

provider;

(ii) the number of referrals resulting from

a threat assessment; and

(iii) the number of students who received

the support or service to which the student was referred; and

(2) study, evaluate, and make recommendations

regarding the mental health services described by Section

38.302(1), the training described by Section 38.302(2), and the

impact of those mental health services, as described by Section

38.302(3), including addressing:

(A) the outcomes and the effectiveness of the

services and training provided, including the outcomes and

effectiveness of the service and training providers and the

programs under which services and training are provided, in:

(i) improving student academic achievement

and attendance;

(ii) reducing student disciplinary

proceedings, suspensions, placements in a disciplinary alternative

education program, and expulsions; and

(iii) delivering prevention and

intervention services to promote early mental health skills,

including:

(a) building skills relating to

managing emotions, establishing and maintaining positive

relationships, and making responsible decisions;

(b) preventing substance abuse;

(c) preventing suicides;

(d) adhering to the purpose of the

relevant program services or training;

(e) promoting trauma-informed

practices;

(f) promoting a positive school

climate, as defined by Section 38.351(d), in the district or

school; and

(g) improving physical and emotional

safety and well-being in the district or school and reducing

violence in the district or school;

(B) best practices for districts and schools in

implementing the services or training in accordance with Sections

37.115 and 38.351, including best practices for:

(i) funding for mental health services and

training provided by a district or school;

(ii) improving psychological safety;

(iii) coordinating systemic and

multitiered support systems that address school climate, as defined

by Section 39.351(d), the social and emotional domain, and

behavioral and mental health;

(iv) increasing contract-based

collaborative efforts or partnerships with local community

programs, agencies, and providers; and

(v) district or school and campus level

policies and procedures related to referral pathways to increase

access to mental health services ;

(C) disparities in the race, ethnicity, gender,

special education status, and geographic location of individuals

receiving the services; and

(D) best practices to replicate the services or

training for all districts and schools.

SECTION 4. Section 38.312, Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

Sec. 38.312. EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and

this subchapter expires December 1, 2031 [ 2025 ].

SECTION 5. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the members of the Collaborative Task Force on Public

School Mental Health Services shall draw lots to determine which

members serve a term expiring September 1, 2026, which members

serve a term expiring September 1, 2027, and which members serve a

term expiring September 1, 2028. The lots must be split into thirds

or as near to thirds as possible.

SECTION 6. 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.