Bill Text: TX SB1540 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Relating to the designation of support services liaison officers at public institutions of higher education.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-05-07 - Referred to Higher Education [SB1540 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-SB1540-Engrossed.html
By: Menéndez | S.B. No. 1540 |
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relating to the designation of support services liaison officers at | ||
public institutions of higher education. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 51.9358 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 51.9358. DESIGNATION OF SUPPORT SERVICES LIAISON | ||
OFFICER TO ASSIST STUDENTS. (a) In this section: | ||
(1) "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher | ||
Education Coordinating Board. | ||
(2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning | ||
assigned by Section 61.003. | ||
(b) Each institution of higher education shall designate at | ||
least one employee of the institution to act as a liaison officer | ||
for current or incoming students at the institution. The liaison | ||
officer shall provide to the students comprehensive information | ||
regarding support services and other resources available to the | ||
students, including: | ||
(1) resources to access: | ||
(A) medical and behavioral health coverage and | ||
services; and | ||
(B) public benefit programs, including programs | ||
related to food security, affordable housing, and housing | ||
subsidies; | ||
(2) public benefit program case management assistance | ||
and counseling; | ||
(3) parenting and child care resources; | ||
(4) employment assistance; | ||
(5) financial counseling and tax preparation | ||
assistance; | ||
(6) transportation assistance; | ||
(7) student academic success strategies; and | ||
(8) any other resources developed by the institution | ||
to assist the students. | ||
(c) An institution of higher education may designate under | ||
Subsection (b) the same employee to act as liaison officer as the | ||
employee designated under Section 51.9356 to act as liaison officer | ||
for current and incoming students at the institution who were | ||
formerly in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and | ||
Protective Services. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020 | ||
academic year. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |