Bill Text: TX HB1623 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Comm Sub


Bill Title: Relating to training for public school personnel to identify and intervene if a student suffers from behavioral health issues.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-04-18 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HB1623 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB1623-Comm_Sub.html
  86R19400 SRS-F
 
  By: Coleman H.B. No. 1623
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1623:
 
  By:  Allen C.S.H.B. No. 1623
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to training for public school personnel to identify and
  intervene if a student suffers from behavioral health issues.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 21.451(d), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (d)  The staff development:
               (1)  may include training in:
                     (A)  technology;
                     (B)  conflict resolution;
                     (C)  discipline strategies, including classroom
  management, district discipline policies, and the student code of
  conduct adopted under Section 37.001 and Chapter 37;
                     (D)  preventing, identifying, responding to, and
  reporting incidents of bullying; and
                     (E)  digital learning;
               (2)  subject to Subsection (e) and to Section 21.3541
  and rules adopted under that section, must include training that is
  evidence-based, as defined by Section 8101, Every Student Succeeds
  Act (20 U.S.C. Section 7801), that:
                     (A)  relates to instruction of students with
  disabilities; and
                     (B)  is designed for educators who work primarily
  outside the area of special education; and
               (3)  must include suicide prevention and
  trauma-informed practices training that must be provided:
                     (A)  on an annual basis, as part of a new employee
  orientation, to all new school district and open-enrollment charter
  school educators; and
                     (B)  to existing school district and
  open-enrollment charter school educators on a schedule adopted by
  the agency by rule that requires an educator to be trained at least
  once every five years.
         SECTION 2.  Section 161.325(a-1), Health and Safety Code, as
  amended by Chapters 522 (S.B. 179) and 714 (H.B. 4056), Acts of the
  85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, is reenacted and amended
  to read as follows:
         (a-1)  The list must include programs and practices in the
  following areas:
               (1)  early mental health intervention;
               (2)  mental health promotion;
               (3)  substance abuse prevention and[;
               [(4)  substance abuse] intervention;
               (4) [(5)]  suicide prevention;
               (5) [(6)]  grief-informed and trauma-informed
  practices;
               (6) [(7)]  building skills related to managing
  emotions, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and
  responsible decision-making;
               (7) [(8)]  positive behavior interventions and
  supports and positive youth development; and
               (8) [(9)]  safe and supportive school climate.
         SECTION 3.  Section 161.325, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Subsections (b-1), (c-3), (c-4), and (c-5) and
  amending Subsections (c-1) and (c-2) to read as follows:
         (b-1)  The trauma-informed practices on the list must
  include components that provide for training counselors, teachers,
  nurses, administrators, and other staff, as well as law enforcement
  officers and social workers who regularly interact with students,
  to:
               (1)  recognize students displaying signs of physical or
  emotional trauma;
               (2)  recognize students displaying signs of physical or
  emotional trauma and a possible need for early mental health or
  substance abuse intervention, which warning signs may include
  declining academic performance, depression, anxiety, isolation,
  unexplained changes in sleep or eating habits, and destructive
  behavior toward self and others; and 
               (3)  intervene effectively with students described by
  this subsection by providing notice and referral to a parent or
  guardian so appropriate action, such as seeking mental health or
  substance abuse services, may be taken by a parent or guardian.
         (c-1)  Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, each
  school district or open-enrollment charter school shall provide
  training described in the components set forth under Subsections
  [Subsection] (b) and (b-1) for teachers, counselors, principals,
  and all other appropriate personnel.  A school district or
  open-enrollment charter school is required to provide the training
  at an elementary school campus only to the extent that sufficient
  funding and programs are available.  A school district or
  open-enrollment charter school may implement a program on the list
  to satisfy the requirements of this subsection.
         (c-2)  If a school district or open-enrollment charter
  school provides the training under Subsection (c-1):
               (1)  a school district or open-enrollment charter
  school employee described under that subsection must participate in
  the training at least once every five years [one time]; and
               (2)  the school district or open-enrollment charter
  school shall maintain records that include the name of each
  district or school employee who participated in the training.
         (c-3)  Each school district and open-enrollment charter
  school shall report annually to the Texas Education Agency the
  following information for the district or school as a whole and for
  each school campus:
               (1)  the number of teachers, principals, and counselors
  employed by the district or school who have completed training
  under this section; and
               (2)  the total number of teachers, principals, and
  counselors employed by the district or school.
         (c-4)  The Texas Education Agency shall compile the
  information reported under Subsection (c-3) for the state as a
  whole, each district and open-enrollment charter school, and each
  campus.  The agency shall make the information available to a member
  of the public who submits a public information request under
  Chapter 552, Government Code.
         (c-5)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school
  may not receive any grant of money for mental health services from
  the agency unless the district or school is in compliance with
  Subsection (c-3).
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
feedback