Senate Bill 12 by Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) recently passed the Texas House. This bill includes parental consent language similar to that originally found in Senate Bill 400. Unfortunately, on the House floor an amendment was passed which removes the ability for a student to consent to counseling under Family Code Section 32.004, for suicide prevention, chemical addiction or dependency, or sexual, physical, or emotional abuse. This would harm the ability of school counselors and other school mental health professionals to care for the well-being of Texas students. We are asking all members to call the office of Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe) TODAY to request that he remove the Rep. Schatzline House floor amendment which would prevent a student from consenting to counseling under Family Code Section 32.004, for suicide prevention, chemical addiction or dependency, or sexual, physical, or emotional abuse and keep the language as written in the Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 12 (CSSB 12), the version voted from the House Public Education Committee. Sen. Creighton’s office can be reached at: (512) 463-0104. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ADVOCACY! (fb)

Another win. Great work, counselors! Your advocacy efforts are making a difference. (fb)