87R9917 MM-F     By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1521       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to creating a mental health task force to study mental   health services provided at institutions of higher education.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 51.91931 to read as follows:          Sec. 51.91931.  COLLABORATIVE TASK FORCE ON HIGHER EDUCATION   MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. (a) In this section:                (1)  "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher   Education Coordinating Board.                (2)  "Institution of higher education" has the meaning   assigned by Section 61.003.                (3)  "Task force" means the Collaborative Task Force on   Higher Education Mental Health Services.          (b)  The Collaborative Task Force on Higher Education Mental   Health Services is established to study and evaluate mental health   services provided at institutions of higher education directly to   students enrolled at the institution. The task force shall:                (1)  research the capacity of institutions of higher   education to identify and address the mental health needs of   students, including for each institution:                      (A)  performing an equity analysis of the   provision of services at the institution, including analyzing the   number of mental health providers on campus, the length of time a   student must wait for an appointment, partner referrals, length of   treatment, and the types of services provided;                      (B)  the mental health provider-to-student   ratios;                      (C)  the number of community partnerships and   referrals for inpatient or outpatient mental health treatment;                      (D)  the total amount of funds and the total   amount of funds as a percentage of the institution's budget   allocated to direct mental health support services;                      (E)  campus-wide needs assessment of mental   health climate and student experiences accessing mental health   care; and                      (F)  staff and faculty mental health training   opportunities, such as mental health first aid and suicide   prevention initiatives, as well as staff and faculty opportunities   to receive mental health care;                (2)  identify structural barriers that directly impact   student mental health and well-being; and                (3)  explore innovative and effective approaches to   meeting the mental health needs of students, with specific focus on   first generation college students, students of color, economically   disadvantaged students, students who are parents, students of   various sexual orientations, survivors of sexual assault, students   who are immigrants, students who are or were previously in the   conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective   Services, and students from rural communities, including:                      (A)  stigma reduction and awareness initiatives;                      (B)  peer support initiatives;                      (C)  action plans based on campus assessment;                      (D)  recruiting and retaining counseling staff of   color;                      (E)  telehealth accessibility and expansion; and                      (F)  addressing trauma and cultivating   resiliency.          (c)  The task force is composed of:                (1)  the commissioner of higher education or the   commissioner's designee;                (2)  the following additional members appointed by the   commissioner of higher education:                      (A)  three students who are enrolled at an   institution of higher education in this state, at least one of whom   is enrolled in a certificate program or a junior college;                      (B)  one person who provides mental health   services at an institution of higher education and who is:                            (i)  a licensed professional counselor, as   defined by Section 503.002, Occupations Code; or                            (ii)  a licensed clinical social worker, as   defined by Section 505.002, Occupations Code;                      (C)  one person who is a psychiatrist;                      (D)  two persons who are higher education   administrators and who oversee the provision of mental health   services at an institution of higher education;                      (E)  one person who is a member of a foundation   that invests in mental health services provided at institutions of   higher education;                      (F)  one person who is an employee of an   institution of higher education designated under Subsection (k) or   (l); and                      (G)  three people who are employees of nonprofit   organizations that specialize in mental health for young adults or   college students; and                (3)  for any other entity the task force considers   necessary, one person appointed by the task force for each such   entity.          (d)  Persons appointed to serve on the task force shall be   selected to represent the racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic   diversity of the this state.          (e)  Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the   task force.          (f)  The commissioner of higher education is designated as   the interim presiding officer for purposes of calling and   conducting the initial meeting of the task force.          (g)  The task force:                (1)  shall at its initial meeting select a presiding   officer from among its members for the purpose of calling and   conducting meetings; and                (2)  may select an assistant presiding officer and a   secretary from among its members.          (h)  A member of the task force may not receive compensation   or reimbursement for service on the task force.          (i)  After its initial meeting, the task force shall meet at   least twice each year at a time and place determined by the   presiding officer. The task force may meet at other times the task   force considers appropriate. The presiding officer may call a   meeting on the presiding officer's own motion.          (j)  The task force may meet by teleconference.          (k)  The commissioner of higher education shall designate   one institution of higher education with experience in evaluating   mental health services to serve as the lead institution for the task   force. The institution designated under this subsection shall   provide faculty, staff, and administrative support services to the   task force as determined necessary by the task force.          (l)  The commissioner of higher education shall designate   two institutions of higher education with experience in evaluating   mental health services to assist the task force and the lead   institution.           (m)  In making a designation under Subsections (k) and (l),   the commissioner of higher education shall give preference to at   least one predominantly black institution, as defined by 20 U.S.C.   Section 1067q(c)(9).          (n)  The coordinating board shall maintain the data   collected by the task force and the work product of the task force.          (o)  The task force shall ensure that data gathered,   information studied, and evaluations conducted under this section:                (1)  are collected and maintained in compliance with   federal law regarding confidentiality of student medical or   educational information, including the Health Insurance   Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. Section 1320d   et seq.) and any state law relating to the privacy of student or   health information; and                (2)  may not be shared with a federal agency or state   agency, except as otherwise provided by law.          (p)  Not later than December 1, 2024, the task force shall   submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the   house of representatives, and the coordinating board a report of   the results of the task force's activities conducted under this   section and any recommendations for legislative or other action.          (q)  The task force is abolished and this section expires   September 1, 2025.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.