bill listing what school social workers must do

The text as introduced · 299 words

90R3830 JDK-F

By: Menéndez
S.B. No. 139

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 33.906 to read as follows:

Sec. 33.906. 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 2027-2028

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, 2027.