Votes at a glance: BHEC adopts rules, requests AG opinion, revokes license and approves executive director raise

At its June 24, 2025 meeting the Texas Behavioral Health Executive Council recorded several formal actions. Below is a concise summary of motions, votes and outcomes taken on the record during the public meeting.

Resolution of appreciation for former chair (adopted) - Motion: Adopt the "resolution of appreciation honoring Chair Gloria Canseco." - Outcome: Adopted by voice vote; chair read the resolution into the record and members voted "ayes have it." (on record) - Notes: Ceremonial resolution recorded during the chair’s report; no implementation actions required.

License revocation (psychology) — revocation ratified - Motion: Ratify revocation of a license following a default hearing (licensee identified in packet as Mr. Walker; subject did not appear). The psychology board previously voted to revoke after a default hearing. - Outcome: Motion to revoke was moved and seconded and carried; Chair announced the motion carries. Doctor Cartwright recused from the vote (recusal recorded on the public record). - Notes: The file shows the underlying convictions and incarceration referenced in staff summary; the council ratified the board action as presented.

Request for Attorney General opinion (approved) - Motion: Request an Attorney General opinion at Representative Toth’s request to clarify whether council licensees fall under a statutory definition referenced in the letter (health‑care‑provider definition cited by Representative Toth). - Outcome: Motion moved and seconded; carried by voice vote. Staff will submit the draft request letter to the Attorney General’s office. - Timing: AG responses commonly take up to 120 days; staff noted the office may request more time.

Rulemaking: proposed rules (approved for proposal) - Motion: The council voted to publish and propose a coordinated set of rule amendments submitted by the member boards. Major topics proposed included: standardizing application shelf life; updates to supervised experience calculations; supervisory remediation plans and complaint‑sharing requirements; board‑specific reorganizations of supervision language; and collaboration notifications among treating providers. - Outcome: Council voted to propose the sets of rules presented for marriage and family therapy, psychology, LPC and social work (voice votes recorded as "ayes"). - Notes: Proposals will proceed through public‑notice and comment periods before final adoption.

Rulemaking: adopted rules (adopted) - Motion: Adopted a package of final rules the council had previously noticed, including continuing education audit provisions (CE Broker authority), revisions clarifying when coaching is presumed to be professional practice, and multiple board CE and supervisor‑related amendments. - Outcome: Adopted by roll call/voice (on the public record the chair announced the ayes have it and rules were adopted). - Notes: Several of these adopted rules had generated public comment during the meeting; comments were entered into the record and considered before adoption.

Executive director compensation (personnel action approved) - Motion: Increase compensation for Executive Director Daryl Spinks by 15% effective July 1. - Outcome: Motion moved, seconded and approved by voice vote; the chair recognized the motion and the council approved the increase on the record. - Notes: The approval followed an executive session discussion of the director’s performance.

How the council handled public comment relevant to rule changes - Multiple public commenters addressed proposed continuing‑education language that would replace earlier cultural‑competence phrasing. Faith Northern (Texas Therapists for Social Justice) and other commenters urged the council not to adopt changes they described as politically motivated; others, including public‑member speakers, supported the proposed rewording. The council moved forward with proposed and adopted CE language while also directing FAQs and explanatory guidance to help licensees interpret the changes.

Records and transparency - All motions and outcomes described above were captured on the public meeting audio and in the meeting packet. For items requiring formal rule adoption, staff will publish the statutorily required notices and maintain the official rulemaking and AG‑opinion records.