Bill Text: TX HB4575 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to continuing education requirements for public school counselors regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning youth issues.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-22 - Referred to Public Education [HB4575 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB4575-Introduced.html
| 88R13136 ANG-D | ||
| By: Jones of Harris | H.B. No. 4575 | |
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| relating to continuing education requirements for public school | ||
| counselors regarding lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, | ||
| or questioning youth issues. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 21.0542 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 21.0542. CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR SCHOOL COUNSELORS | ||
| REGARDING LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUEER, OR | ||
| QUESTIONING YOUTH ISSUES. (a) The board shall propose rules | ||
| requiring a counselor to complete a three-hour continuing education | ||
| course to help school counselors address issues concerning students | ||
| who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning. | ||
| (b) The rules proposed by the board under this section may | ||
| allow a school counselor to receive credit toward the total number | ||
| of hours required for the counselor's overall continuing education | ||
| requirements for completion of a course under this section. | ||
| (c) The board shall identify or create a continuing | ||
| education course or program that meets the requirements of | ||
| Subsection (a) and includes training regarding: | ||
| (1) pronoun terminology and usage; | ||
| (2) the handling of hate crimes and bullying against | ||
| students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or | ||
| questioning; | ||
| (3) mental health and suicide education related to the | ||
| specific struggles encountered by students who are lesbian, gay, | ||
| bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning; | ||
| (4) advice to provide a student for communicating the | ||
| student's sexual orientation or gender identity to the student's | ||
| parent; | ||
| (5) the creation of a welcoming environment that is | ||
| culturally sensitive for students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, | ||
| transgender, queer, or questioning; and | ||
| (6) past and present systems of oppression for persons | ||
| who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning. | ||
| (d) The board may consult with the following persons or | ||
| entities as necessary to implement this section: | ||
| (1) a psychologist specializing in child psychology; | ||
| (2) a psychologist specializing in care for persons | ||
| who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning; | ||
| or | ||
| (3) an appropriate nonprofit organization. | ||
| SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date | ||
| of this Act, the State Board for Educator Certification shall | ||
| propose rules implementing Section 21.0542, Education Code, as | ||
| added by this Act. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. | ||
