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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to inclusion of mental health concerns in existing school |
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health efforts. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 28.004, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (l-2) to read as |
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follows: |
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(d) The board of trustees shall appoint at least five |
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members to the local school health advisory council. A majority of |
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the members must be persons who are parents of students enrolled in |
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the district and who are not employed by the district. One of those |
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members shall serve as chair or co-chair of the council. The board |
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of trustees also may appoint one or more persons from each of the |
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following groups or a representative from a group other than a group |
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specified under this subsection: |
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(1) public school teachers; |
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(2) public school administrators; |
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(3) district students; |
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(4) health care professionals; |
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(5) the business community; |
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(6) law enforcement; |
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(7) senior citizens; |
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(8) the clergy; |
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(9) nonprofit health organizations; [and] |
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(10) local domestic violence programs; |
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(11) local community mental health providers; and |
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(12) local substance abuse services providers. |
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(l-2) The local school health advisory council shall: |
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(1) review the adopted health education curriculum for |
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accuracy and content related to mental health and consider the |
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inclusion of the following topics: |
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(A) recognition of signs and symptoms related to |
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mental illness; |
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(B) mental health stigmas; |
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(C) substance abuse; and |
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(D) stress management; |
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(2) make recommendations regarding professional |
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development designed to promote the ability of school district |
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staff to build positive relationships with students, increase |
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school connectedness, and improve recognition and understanding of |
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mental health issues; and |
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(3) make policy recommendations to the school district |
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concerning the integration of social and emotional learning into |
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the academic curriculum. |
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SECTION 2. Section 38.013(a), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The agency shall make available to each school district |
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one or more coordinated health programs designed to prevent |
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obesity, cardiovascular disease, oral diseases, [and] Type 2 |
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diabetes, and mental health concerns in elementary school, middle |
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school, and junior high school students. Each program must provide |
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for coordinating: |
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(1) health education, including oral health |
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education; |
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(2) physical education and physical activity; |
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(3) nutrition services; [and] |
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(4) parental involvement; and |
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(5) physical and mental health policies, services, and |
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supports. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |