bill making colleges notify disciplined students during business hours

The text as introduced · 555 words

90R3236 KJE-D

By: Lalani
H.B. No. 465

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to measures to support students enrolled at a public

institution of higher education, including student disciplinary

process requirements and mental health awareness training for

faculty.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 51, Education Code, is amended by adding

Subchapter J to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER J. STUDENT DISCIPLINARY PROCESS

Sec. 51.501. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "institution

of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.

Sec. 51.502. NOTICE REQUIREMENTS. If an institution of

higher education initiates an investigation or disciplinary

process against a student enrolled at the institution, the

institution shall provide written notice to the student regarding

the investigation or disciplinary process as soon as practicable on

a weekday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Sec. 51.503. SAME-DAY ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES.

On the date on which an institution of higher education provides

notice to a student under Section 51.502, the institution shall

provide to the student same-day access to mental health resources

at the institution.

Sec. 51.504. STUDENT ADVISOR. (a) An institution of higher

education that initiates disciplinary charges against a student

enrolled at the institution shall allow the student to be assisted

by an advisor during the disciplinary process. The student may:

(1) select an outside advisor; or

(2) request the institution to provide an independent

advisor.

(b) An institution of higher education shall provide to a

student notice regarding the right to be assisted by an advisor

under this section together with notice of the initiation of

disciplinary charges.

(c) An institution of higher education may provide an

independent advisor to a student under Subsection (a)(2) through:

(1) a confidential respondent services coordinator;

(2) an agreement with a student-based peer support

program; or

(3) an agreement with an alumni-based support program.

(d) An institution of higher education shall provide to an

advisor selected or requested by a student under Subsection (a):

(1) training on the disciplinary process relating to

the disciplinary charges; and

(2) with the student's written consent, updates on the

disciplinary process.

(e) An advisor selected or requested by a student under

Subsection (a) shall participate in the disciplinary process as an

advocate for the student or, if applicable, as an advisor for the

student under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20

U.S.C. Section 1681 et seq.).

SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 51.91942 to read as follows:

Sec. 51.91942. MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING FOR FACULTY. (a) In

this section, "institution of higher education" has the meaning

assigned by Section 61.003.

(b) An institution of higher education shall provide

training on mental health awareness to institution faculty.

(c) The training must include information regarding the

mental health of students subject to an investigation or

disciplinary process at the institution of higher education.

SECTION 3. Subchapter J, Chapter 51, and Section 51.91942,

Education Code, as added by this Act, apply beginning with the 2027

fall semester.

SECTION 4. 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, 2027.