Bill > HB789

This bill strengthens parental consent requirements for psychological or psychiatric activities in Texas schools by explicitly defining "psychological or psychiatric examination or test" and "psychological or psychiatric treatment" and mandating that school district employees or contractors obtain written, signed parental consent for each specific activity involving such examinations, tests, or treatments. The bill clarifies that consent is not required for verbal check-ins about a child's general well-being, does not impact a child's ability to consent to counseling under existing family code, and does not interfere with mandatory child abuse reporting. The definitions are broad, encompassing surveys, screenings, or methods embedded in academic lessons that aim to elicit information about a student's attitudes, feelings, mental state, or behavioral characteristics. The bill also requires schools to retain these parental consent documents in the student's educational records and provides exceptions to consent requirements for safety-related recordings, extracurricular activities, classroom instruction, media coverage, and student safety purposes. The bill will take effect for the 2025-2026 school year, contingent upon receiving a two-thirds vote in the Texas legislature.

Education

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB789