TITLE: Relating to creating a mental health allotment under the Foundation School Program.

SUMMARY: Relating to creating a mental health allotment under the Foundation School Program.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to creating a mental health allotment under the Foundation School Program. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 48, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 48.117 to read as follows: Sec. 48.117. MENTAL HEALTH ALLOTMENT. (a) In this section, "mental health services" means assessment, diagnosis, treatment, or counseling by a mental health professional to assist a student in: (1) alleviating mental or emotional illness, symptoms, conditions, or disorders, including alcohol or drug addiction; (2) understanding conscious or subconscious motivations; (3) resolving emotional, attitudinal, or relationship conflicts; or (4) modifying feelings, attitudes, or behaviors that interfere with effective emotional, social, or intellectual functioning. (b) This section applies only to a school district in which not less than 60 percent of the campuses in the district offer students access to mental health services. (c) From funds appropriated or otherwise available for the purpose, the commissioner may provide to a school district to which this section applies an annual allotment for each student who accesses mental health services through the district in an amount equal to the district's basic allotment or, if applicable, the sum of the basic allotment and the allotment under Section 48.101 to which the district is entitled, multiplied by a weight in an amount determined by the commissioner based on criteria related to the cost of providing those services. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.