Bill Text: TX HB3143 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to mental health professional staffing requirements at certain public institutions of higher education.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-03-29 - Referred to Higher Education [HB3143 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HB3143-Introduced.html
85R5695 MM-D | ||
By: Turner | H.B. No. 3143 |
|
||
|
||
relating to mental health professional staffing requirements at | ||
certain public institutions of higher education. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 51.9196 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 51.9196. MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL STAFFING | ||
REQUIREMENT. (a) In this section: | ||
(1) "General academic teaching institution" and | ||
"public state college" have the meanings assigned by Section | ||
61.003. | ||
(2) "Mental health professional" has the meaning | ||
assigned by Section 164.003, Health and Safety Code. | ||
(b) This section applies only to a general academic teaching | ||
institution other than a public state college. | ||
(c) Beginning with the 2021-2022 academic year, an | ||
institution to which this section applies shall ensure that at | ||
least one full-time mental health professional is available at the | ||
institution for every 1,500 students enrolled in a full course load | ||
at the institution. | ||
(c-1) Beginning with the 2018-2019 academic year, an | ||
institution to which this section applies shall ensure that at | ||
least one full-time mental health professional is available at the | ||
institution for every 1,750 students enrolled in a full course load | ||
at the institution. This subsection expires September 1, 2021. | ||
(d) The mental health professional to student ratio | ||
required by this section does not include students who attend the | ||
institution through online coursework only. | ||
(e) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall | ||
adopt rules as necessary to administer this section. | ||
SECTION 2. 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, 2017. |