Bill > SB113

This bill modifies the Texas Education Code to strengthen parental consent requirements for school district employees and contractors regarding psychological examinations, tests, treatments, and recordings of children. The bill expands the existing consent law by explicitly including school district contractors alongside employees and requiring written informed consent each time before conducting psychological or psychiatric examinations, tests, or treatments. The bill provides detailed definitions of what constitutes a psychological or psychiatric examination, test, or treatment, which broadly includes surveys, screenings, or methods embedded in academic lessons that seek to elicit information about a child's attitudes, feelings, or mental state. The legislation clarifies that employees and contractors can still verbally inquire about a child's general well-being and conduct academic lessons that do not directly probe into a child's mental or emotional state. The bill maintains existing exceptions for consent, such as recordings for safety, extracurricular activities, classroom instruction, media coverage, and student safety purposes. Additionally, the bill requires school districts to retain the written informed consent as part of the child's educational records. The act will take effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds vote in the Texas Legislature, or otherwise on September 1, 2025.

Education

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB113