bill requiring mental health training for school volunteers

The text as introduced · 482 words

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.