Texas H.B. 1386 - Early Mental Health Intervention and Prevention of Youth Suicide
Early Mental Health Intervention and Prevention of Youth Suicide
Directs the department of public health, in coordination with the Texas Education Agency, to provide and annually update a list of best practice-based early mental health intervention and suicide prevention programs for implementation in public K-12 schools. Permits districts to select program(s) for implementation in the district. Requires that programs on the list include components 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 at risk of committing suicide, including students who are or may be the victims of or who engage in bullying; (2) recognize students displaying specified early warning signs and a possible need for early mental health intervention; and (3) intervene with students described in (1) and (2) by providing notice and referral to a parent so appropriate action, such as seeking mental health services, may be taken by a parent. Directs the department of public health and Texas Education Agency to consider certain programs in developing the list of programs. Authorizes local boards to adopt a policy concerning early mental health intervention and suicide prevention that (1) establishes a procedure for notifying parents that their child is recommended for early mental health intervention or that their child is identified as at risk of committing suicide; (2) establishes that the district may develop a reporting mechanism and may designate one or more liaison officers to identify students in need of early mental health intervention or suicide prevention; and (3) sets out available counseling alternatives for a parent to consider when their child is identified as possibly being in need of early mental health intervention or suicide prevention. Prohibits medical screening of a student as part of the identification process without prior parental permission. Requires that district policies be included in the student handbook and the district improvement plan. Permits the department of health to accept donations for purposes of this act, but prohibits the department of health from accepting anonymous donations. Directs the department of health, by January 2013, to report to the legislation on the development of the list of programs and the implementation in districts of selected programs by those districts that choose to implement programs. http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/82R/billtext/pdf/HB01386F.pdf#navpanes=0
Source: www.capitol.state.tx.us
Status: Signed into law	Status Date: 06/17/2011