Bill > SB1401

This bill establishes the Texas Mental Health Profession Pipeline Program through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to create clear pathways for students to enter mental health professions. The program encourages participating higher education institutions to develop pipelines that allow public junior college students to seamlessly transfer and complete baccalaureate or postbaccalaureate degrees in key mental health fields, including psychology, professional counseling, psychiatric nursing, social work, school psychology, and marriage and family therapy. Participating institutions must partner with junior colleges to ensure students can transfer without losing credits, complete their degree in less than two years, and potentially be automatically admitted to postgraduate programs if they meet academic requirements and the program has capacity. The bill requires participating institutions to submit annual reports tracking student progress, transfer rates, degree completion times, and program capacity. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board will oversee the program, maintain a website with program information, and develop rules to implement the initiative. The program aims to streamline educational pathways and potentially increase the number of mental health professionals in Texas by reducing barriers to degree completion.

Education

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB1401