SB1401 - Relating to the creation of the Texas Mental Health Profession Pipeline Program by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

      S.B. No. 1401         AN ACT   relating to the creation of the Texas Mental Health Profession   Pipeline Program by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 61.070 to read as follows:           Sec.   61.070.     TEXAS MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSION PIPELINE   PROGRAM. (a) In this section, "participating institution" means a   general academic teaching institution or a private or independent   institution of higher education that offers baccalaureate degree   programs and postbaccalaureate degree and certificate programs.           (b)     The board shall establish the Texas Mental Health   Profession Pipeline Program and encourage participating   institutions to develop pipeline programs for the purpose of   providing a clear, guided pathway for public junior college   students to transfer to a participating institution to pursue a   baccalaureate degree or a postbaccalaureate degree or certificate   leading to licensure and practice as:                 (1)     a psychologist, as defined by Section 501.002,   Occupations Code;                 (2)     a licensed professional counselor, as defined by   Section 503.002, Occupations Code;                 (3)     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;                 (4)     a licensed master social worker or a licensed   clinical social worker, as defined by Section 505.002, Occupations   Code;                 (5)     a licensed specialist in school psychology, as   defined by Section 501.002, Occupations Code; or                 (6)     a licensed marriage and family therapist, as   defined by Section 502.002, Occupations Code.           (c)     A participating institution that develops a pipeline   program under Subsection (b) shall:                 (1)     partner with one or more public junior colleges to   create a guided pathway for public junior college students; and                 (2)     ensure that a public junior college student who   completes a field of study curriculum or is awarded a "Texas Direct"   associate degree under Section 61.834 and transfers to the   participating institution:                       (A)     does not lose any credits earned before   transferring;                       (B)     can earn a baccalaureate degree in less than   two years following the transfer; and                       (C)     after earning a baccalaureate degree in an   appropriate program as determined by the participating   institution, is automatically admitted to a postbaccalaureate   degree or certificate program at the participating institution if:                             (i)     the student meets the minimum academic   requirements, as determined by the participating institution; and                             (ii)     the postbaccalaureate degree or   certificate program has the capacity to admit new students based   on:                                   (a)     student-to-faculty ratios   required by state law, federal law, the appropriate accrediting   organization, or institutional policy; and                                   (b)     the availability of clinical   placements and the faculty or preceptors that supervise those   placements.           (d)  The board shall determine:                 (1)     the existing field of study curricula that a   participating institution may accept for purposes of Subsection   (c)(2); and                 (2)     any additional field of study curricula that a   participating institution may develop to enable a public junior   college student to fulfill the undergraduate curricular   requirements relevant for specialties described by Subsection (b).           (e)     The board shall promote the program and maintain on the   board's Internet website information that clearly displays:                 (1)  information described by Subsection (d);                 (2)     a list of each pipeline program operating in this   state;                 (3)     a list of each participating institution that has   established a pipeline program;                 (4)     a map displaying the location of each   participating institution that has established a pipeline program;   and                 (5)     data regarding each pipeline program based on   information provided to the board under Subsection (f).           (f)     Each participating institution shall submit an annual   report to the board that includes:                 (1)     the total number of students in the participating   institution's pipeline program;                 (2)     the number of students in the participating   institution's pipeline program who have transferred from a public   junior college to the participating institution without losing any   credits previously earned at the public junior college;                 (3)     the number of students in the participating   institution's pipeline program who in the preceding academic year   earned a baccalaureate degree from the participating institution   that was completed in two years or less;                 (4)     the capacity of the participating institution's   pipeline program to prepare more students for licensure and   practice as mental health professionals in specialties described by   Subsection (b);                 (5)     the financial resources allocated by the   participating institution to increase the number of students who   are able to complete their targeted degree or certificate program   under the participating institution's pipeline program; and                 (6)     the average time for a student to complete the   student's targeted degree or certificate program under the   participating institution's pipeline program from the date the   student enrolls in a public junior college to the date of the   student's graduation from the degree or certificate program.           (g)     The board shall adopt rules consistent with this section   as necessary to implement this section, including rules for making   determinations under Subsection (d).          SECTION 2.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board   shall adopt rules as required by Section 61.070(g), Education Code,   as added by this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective   date of this Act.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.               ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                 I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1401 passed the Senate on   April 16, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.       ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate                I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1401 passed the House on   May 23, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 79, Nays 58, two   present not voting.       ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House            Approved:     ______________________________                Date       ______________________________              Governor