88R6933 JTZ-F     By: Menéndez S.B. No. 1157       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to social workers employed by school districts.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 33, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 33.905 to read as follows:          Sec. 33.905.  SOCIAL WORKERS. (a) In this section, "school   social work services" means services specialized to assist students   and families and designed to alleviate barriers to learning,   connect the home, the community, and the school, advocate for the   best interest and academic success of students, strengthen   relationships, and assist with basic and biopsychosocial needs.          (b)  A social worker employed by a school district:                (1)  shall:                      (A)  collaborate with district administrators and   other district professionals to enhance students' learning   environments;                      (B)  as appropriate, serve on district committees   that address education and safety issues for students; and                      (C)  collaborate with parents, teachers, district   administrators, and the community to develop and implement school   violence prevention, suicide prevention, and child abuse   identification strategies; and                (2)  may provide:                      (A)  school social work services to students and   families in the district; and                      (B)  behavioral health referrals and group   intervention services as needed.          (c)  The board of trustees of a school district may adopt a   policy that requires a social worker employed by the district to   spend at least 80 percent of the social worker's total work time on   duties described by this section.          SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024   school 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, 2023.