| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the establishment of the School Psychologists Shortage |
|
|
Task Force. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
|
|
(1) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of |
|
|
education. |
|
|
(2) "Task force" means the School Psychologists |
|
|
Shortage Task Force established under Section 2 of this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 2. SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS SHORTAGE TASK FORCE. (a) |
|
|
The commissioner shall establish the School Psychologists Shortage |
|
|
Task Force to study issues related to the shortage of school |
|
|
psychologists. |
|
|
(b) The members of the task force must include: |
|
|
(1) three members appointed by the lieutenant governor |
|
|
as follows: |
|
|
(A) two members of the senate; and |
|
|
(B) one licensed specialist in school |
|
|
psychology; |
|
|
(2) three members appointed by the speaker of the |
|
|
house of representatives as follows: |
|
|
(A) two members of the house of representatives; |
|
|
and |
|
|
(B) one licensed specialist in school |
|
|
psychology; and |
|
|
(3) one member of the State Board of Education |
|
|
appointed by the commissioner. |
|
|
(c) The Texas Education Agency shall provide administrative |
|
|
support to the task force. |
|
|
(d) The commissioner shall appoint a member of the task |
|
|
force to serve as the presiding officer. |
|
|
(e) The task force shall meet at the call of the presiding |
|
|
officer. |
|
|
(f) The task force shall: |
|
|
(1) conduct a study on the issues related to the |
|
|
shortage of school psychologists among school districts, including |
|
|
supply and demand issues for school-based psychological services |
|
|
among districts; and |
|
|
(2) provide recommendations for increasing the |
|
|
presence of school psychologists in school districts and increasing |
|
|
the use of school-based psychological services, as needed. |
|
|
SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than December 31, 2024, the |
|
|
task force shall submit a report to the governor and the legislature |
|
|
that includes the task force's findings and recommendations under |
|
|
this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 4. ABOLITION OF TASK FORCE; EXPIRATION. The task |
|
|
force is abolished and this Act expires January 1, 2026. |
|
|
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
|
|
immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
|
|
elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
|
|
Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
|
|
immediate effect, this Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
|
|
last day of the legislative session. |