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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the assignment of certain behavioral health |
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professionals to certain public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 33, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 33.910 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 33.910. BEHAVIORAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL. (a) In this |
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section, "behavioral health professional" means: |
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(1) a licensed specialist in school psychology |
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licensed under Chapter 501, Occupations Code; |
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(2) a licensed professional counselor licensed under |
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Chapter 503, Occupations Code; |
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(3) a licensed clinical social worker licensed under |
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Chapter 505, Occupations Code; or |
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(4) a school counselor with an appropriate certificate |
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or permit issued under Subchapter B, Chapter 21. |
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(b) A school district shall assign at least one behavioral |
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health professional to each campus in the district in which 50 |
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percent or more of the students in average daily attendance at the |
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campus are educationally disadvantaged, homeless as defined by 42 |
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U.S.C. Section 11302, or in the conservatorship of the Department |
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of Family and Protective Services. |
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(c) A school district may not require a behavioral health |
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professional assigned under this section to administer assessment |
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instruments or provide other assistance in connection with |
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assessment instruments. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 42, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 42.2519 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 42.2519. ADDITIONAL STATE AID FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH |
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PROFESSIONALS. (a) For each school year, from funds that may be |
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used for the purpose, a school district is entitled to state aid in |
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an amount, as determined by the commissioner, sufficient to assist |
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the district in employing the number of behavioral health |
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professionals required by Section 33.910. |
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(b) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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administer this section. |
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SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2018-2019 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |