HB2598 - Relating to a school psychologist licensed under the Occupations Code.

      H.B. No. 2598         AN ACT   relating to a school psychologist licensed under the Occupations   Code.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 38.303(a), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  The task force is composed of:                (1)  the commissioner or the commissioner's designee;                (2)  the following additional members appointed by the   commissioner:                      (A)  three parents of students who are enrolled in   school districts or open-enrollment charter schools and receive the   mental health services described by Section 38.302(1);                      (B)  one person who provides the mental health   services described by Section 38.302(1) or the training described   by Section 38.302(2) and who is:                            (i)  a licensed professional counselor, as   defined by Section 503.002, Occupations Code;                            (ii)  a licensed clinical social worker, as   defined by Section 505.002, Occupations Code; or                            (iii)  a school counselor certified under   Subchapter B, Chapter 21;                      (C)  one person who is a psychiatrist;                      (D)  two persons who are administrators of   districts or schools that provide the mental health services   described by Section 38.302(1) or the training described by Section   38.302(2);                      (E)  one person who is a member of a foundation   that invests in the mental health services described by Section   38.302(1) or the training described by Section 38.302(2);                      (F)  one person who is an employee of an   institution of higher education designated under Section 38.307;   and                      (G)  one person who is a [ licensed specialist in ]   school psychologist [ psychology ], as defined by Section 501.002,   Occupations Code; and                (3)  for any other entity the task force considers   necessary, one person appointed by the task force for each such   entity.          SECTION 2.  Section 61.601, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 61.601.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "mental   health professional" means:                (1)  a licensed physician who is:                      (A)  a graduate of an accredited psychiatric   residency training program; or                      (B)  certified in psychiatry by:                            (i)  the American Board of Psychiatry and   Neurology; or                            (ii)  the American Osteopathic Board of   Neurology and Psychiatry;                (2)  a psychologist, as defined by Section 501.002,   Occupations Code;                (3)  a licensed professional counselor, as defined by   Section 503.002, Occupations Code;                (4)  an advanced practice registered nurse, as defined   by Section 301.152, Occupations Code, who holds a nationally   recognized board certification in psychiatric or mental health   nursing;                (5)  a licensed clinical social worker, as defined by   Section 505.002, Occupations Code;                (6)  a [ licensed specialist in ] school psychologist   [ psychology ], as defined by Section 501.002, Occupations Code;                (7)  a chemical dependency counselor, as defined by   Section 504.001, Occupations Code; and                (8)  a licensed marriage and family therapist, as   defined by Section 502.002, Occupations Code.          SECTION 3.  Section 61.607(b), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  The total amount of repayment assistance received by a   mental health professional under this subchapter may not exceed:                (1)  $160,000, for assistance from the state received   by a licensed physician;                (2)  $80,000, for assistance from the state received   by:                      (A)  a psychologist;                      (B)  a licensed clinical social worker, if the   social worker has received a doctoral degree related to social   work;                      (C)  a licensed professional counselor, if the   counselor has received a doctoral degree related to counseling; or                      (D)  a licensed marriage and family therapist, if   the marriage and family therapist has received a doctoral degree   related to marriage and family therapy;                (3)  $60,000, for assistance from the state received by   an advanced practice registered nurse;                (4)  $40,000, for assistance from the state received   by:                      (A)  a licensed clinical social worker, a licensed   marriage and family therapist, or a licensed professional counselor   who is not described by Subdivision (2); or                      (B)  a [ licensed specialist in ] school   psychologist [ psychology ]; and                (5)  $10,000, for assistance from the state received by   a licensed chemical dependency counselor, if the chemical   dependency counselor has received an associate degree related to   chemical dependency counseling or behavioral science.          SECTION 4.  Section 411.12502(a), Government Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  The Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council is   entitled to obtain criminal history record information as provided   by Subsection (b) that relates to a person who is an applicant for   or licensed as:                (1)  a licensed psychologist, licensed psychological   associate, or [ licensed specialist in ] school psychologist   [ psychology ] under Chapter 501, Occupations Code;                (2)  a licensed marriage and family therapist or   licensed marriage and family therapist associate under Chapter 502,   Occupations Code;                (3)  a licensed professional counselor or licensed   professional counselor associate under Chapter 503, Occupations   Code; or                (4)  a licensed baccalaureate social worker, licensed   master social worker, or licensed clinical social worker under   Chapter 505, Occupations Code.          SECTION 5.  Section 548.0203(a), Government Code, as   effective April 1, 2025, is amended to read as follows:          (a)  In this section, "health professional" means an   individual who is:                (1)  licensed, registered, certified, or otherwise   authorized by this state to practice as a social worker,   occupational therapist, or speech-language pathologist;                (2)  a licensed professional counselor;                (3)  a licensed marriage and family therapist; or                (4)  a [ licensed specialist in ] school psychologist, as   defined by Section 501.002, Occupations Code [ psychology ].          SECTION 6.  Section 501.002(2), Occupations Code, is amended   to read as follows:                (2)   "School psychologist" [ "Licensed specialist in   school psychology" ] means a person who holds a license to engage in   the practice of psychology under Section 501.260.          SECTION 7.  Section 501.051(a-1), Occupations Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a-1)  One of the members appointed under Subsection (a)(1)   or (a)(2) must practice as a [ licensed specialist in ] school   psychologist [ psychology ] under Section 501.260.          SECTION 8.  The heading to Section 501.260, Occupations   Code, is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 501.260.  [ LICENSED SPECIALIST IN ] SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST   [ PSYCHOLOGY ].          SECTION 9.  Sections 501.260(a) and (c), Occupations Code,   are amended to read as follows:          (a)  The executive council by rule shall issue a license to a   [ licensed specialist in ] school psychologist [ psychology ]. A   license issued under this section constitutes the appropriate   credential for a person who provides psychological services as   required by Section 21.003(b), Education Code.          (c)  The rules of practice for a [ licensed specialist in ]   school psychologist [ psychology ] must comply with nationally   recognized standards for the practice of school psychology.          SECTION 10.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.       ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                   I certify that H.B. No. 2598 was passed by the House on May   10, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 109, Nays 22, 2 present, not   voting.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House                 I certify that H.B. No. 2598 was passed by the Senate on May   28, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.     ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate       APPROVED:  _____________________                      Dat [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]