SB153 - Relating to establishing a social work recruitment and retention program administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

  89R1052 JTZ-D     By: Menéndez S.B. No. 153       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to establishing a social work recruitment and retention   program administered by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating   Board.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Chapter 61, Education Code, is amended by adding   Subchapter LL to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER LL. SOCIAL WORK RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION PROGRAM           Sec.   61.9851.     DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "program"   means the social work intern practicum stipend (SWIPS) program.           Sec.   61.9852.     ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM.   The board shall establish and administer a social work recruitment   and retention program to provide an intern practicum stipend to   assist students at institutions of higher education in obtaining   field hours necessary for program coursework related to completing   a bachelor's or master's degree in social work.           Sec.   61.9853.     ELIGIBILITY; PRIORITY OF APPLICANTS. (a) To   be eligible to receive a stipend under the program, a student must:                 (1)     apply to the board in the form and manner   prescribed by board rule;                 (2)     be enrolled at an institution of higher education   in an educational program that is accredited by the Council on   Social Work Education leading to   a bachelor's or master's degree in   social work;                 (3)     be accepted into a practicum placement approved by   the board for purposes of the program;                 (4)     enter into a written agreement with the board as   provided by board rule; and                 (5)     satisfy any other criteria prescribed by board   rule.           (b)     The board shall establish a method for prioritizing   applicants for practicum stipends in the event the total amount of   money available to provide stipends under this subchapter for an   academic year is not sufficient to provide a stipend to each   applicant who is eligible under Subsection (a). The priority   criteria must include:                 (1)     qualification for need-based aid based on free   application for federal student aid (FAFSA) indicators; and                 (2)     practicum placement in a mental health   professional shortage area designated by the Department of State   Health Services.           Sec.   61.9854.     PRACTICUM STIPEND AWARDS. (a) The amount of   a practicum stipend award to which an eligible student is entitled   is an amount equal to:                 (1)     for a student enrolled in a bachelor's degree   program, $15 per hour for each hour of supervised field hours in an   approved practicum program, not to exceed a total of $6,000; or                 (2)     for a student enrolled in a master's degree   program, $20 per hour for each hour of supervised field hours in an   approved practicum program, not to exceed a total of $9,000.           (b)     Each academic year, the board shall provide money for   the practicum stipends to institutions of higher education with   Council on Social Work Education-accredited educational programs   based on the institution's anticipated need. Each institution shall   determine the timeline and procedure for distributing the money for   that academic year to eligible students based on the board's   priority criteria adopted under Section 61.9853(b), if applicable.           (c)     An institution of higher education shall remit to the   board any unused money received by the institution under the   program for an academic year as soon as practicable following that   academic year.           Sec.   61.9855.     PRIORITY OF INSTITUTIONS. The board shall   establish a method for prioritizing institutions of higher   education for distribution of practicum stipends in the event the   total amount of money available to provide stipends under this   subchapter for an academic year is not sufficient to provide money   for stipends at each institution described by Section 61.9854(b).   The priority criteria shall include:                 (1)     serving a high percentage of students who qualify   for need-based aid based on free application for federal student   aid (FAFSA) indicators;                 (2)     having a high number of students who complete   practicum placements in mental health professional shortage areas   designated by the Department of State Health Services; and                   (3)     designation as a historically black college or   university or a Hispanic-serving institution.             Sec.   61.9856.     REPORTS. (a) Each institution of higher   education that receives money for practicum stipends under the   program for an academic year shall collect and submit data in the   form of a report to the board each semester. The report must include   information regarding:                 (1)     the amount of money distributed by the institution   under the program for that semester;                 (2)     the number of participants in the program during   that semester; and                 (3)     any other expenses incurred by the institution   related to the program for that semester.           (b)     Not later than September 1 of each even-numbered year,   the board shall submit a report on the program to the governor, the   lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,   and each standing committee of the legislature with primary   jurisdiction over matters relating to finance. The report must   include an analysis of the program's effectiveness and any   recommendations for legislative or other action.           Sec.   61.9857.     RULES. The board shall adopt rules necessary   for the administration of this subchapter.          SECTION 2.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board   shall adopt rules for the administration of Subchapter LL, Chapter   61, Education Code, as added by this Act, as soon as practicable   after this Act takes effect.          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, 2025.