Effective Date: September 1, 2021

Collaborative Task Force on Public School Mental Health Services

• Provides deadlines for the Health and Human Commission, regional education service centers, and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to submit reports and lists to the Collaborative Task Force on Public School Mental Health Services (“task force”). Allows the task force, or TEA on behalf of the task force, to request data or consult with school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, regional education service centers, local mental health authorities, or other entities.
• Provides for student privacy and confidentiality on any data which is requested or collected by the task force. The data must be provided to the task force within 60 business days of request. An entity which provides data to the task force or the TEA may not include any personally identifying information of an individual receiving a mental health service. The entity does not need prior authorization from an individual or their parent or guardian prior to providing the data. The person disclosing the data to the task force or the TEA is immune from civil or criminal liability, and from administrative penalty related to that disclosure.
• Expands the duties of the task force and permits the task force to consult with relevant experts and stakeholders, while not disclosing a student’s medical or educational information. It also allows the task force to enter into agreements with institutions of higher education or other relevant entities as needed.