| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to a requirement that entering undergraduate students at a |
|
|
public institution of higher education attend an orientation |
|
|
regarding mental health and suicide prevention services. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 51.9194 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 51.9194. REQUIRED ORIENTATION FOR UNDERGRADUATE |
|
|
STUDENTS REGARDING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE PREVENTION SERVICES. |
|
|
(a) An institution of higher education shall require each entering |
|
|
undergraduate student, including each undergraduate student who |
|
|
transfers to the institution, to attend an orientation that |
|
|
includes information about: |
|
|
(1) available mental health and suicide prevention |
|
|
services offered by the institution or by any associated |
|
|
organizations or programs; and |
|
|
(2) early warning signs that are often present in and |
|
|
appropriate intervention for a person who may be considering |
|
|
suicide. |
|
|
(b) The orientation under this section must be in the form |
|
|
of a live presentation. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 51.9194, Education Code, as added by |
|
|
this Act, applies beginning with entering undergraduate students |
|
|
admitted to an institution of higher education beginning with the |
|
|
2016 fall semester. |
|
|
SECTION 3. 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 September 1, 2015. |