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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to measures for ensuring safety and security in public |
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schools, including certain training for school district personnel |
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and parents of certain students. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 21.044(a-1), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a-1) Any training requirements for a certificate specified |
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under Subsection (a) must require that the person demonstrate: |
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(1) basic knowledge of: |
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(A) each disability category under the |
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Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400 |
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et seq.) and how each category can affect student learning and |
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development; and |
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(B) conditions that may be considered a |
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disability under Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. |
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Section 794), and how a condition covered by that section can affect |
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student learning and development; |
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(2) competence in the use of proactive instructional |
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planning techniques that: |
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(A) provide flexibility in the ways: |
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(i) information is presented; |
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(ii) students respond or demonstrate |
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knowledge and skills; and |
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(iii) students are engaged; |
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(B) reduce barriers in instruction; |
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(C) provide appropriate accommodations, |
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supports, and challenges; and |
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(D) maintain high achievement expectations for |
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all students, including students with disabilities and students of |
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limited English proficiency; |
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(3) competence in the use of evidence-based inclusive |
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instructional practices, including: |
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(A) general and special education collaborative |
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and co-teaching models and approaches; |
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(B) multitiered systems of support, including |
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response to intervention strategies, classroom and school level |
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data-based collaborative structures, and evidence-based strategies |
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for intervention and progress monitoring systems in academic areas; |
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(C) classroom management techniques using |
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evidence-based behavioral intervention strategies and supports and |
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de-escalation techniques; and |
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(D) appropriate adaptation strategies, including |
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accommodations, modifications, and instruction in the use of |
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assistive technology for instruction; and |
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(4) thorough understanding of and competence in the |
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use of open education resource instructional materials included on |
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the list of approved instructional materials maintained by the |
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State Board of Education under Section 31.022 in each subject area |
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and grade level covered by the person's certificate. |
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SECTION 2. Section 29.041(3), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(3) "Supplemental special education services" means |
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an additive service that provides an educational benefit to a |
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student receiving special education services under Subchapter A, |
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including: |
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(A) occupational therapy, physical therapy, and |
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speech therapy; [and] |
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(B) private tutoring and other supplemental |
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private instruction or programs; and |
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(C) crisis intervention training for the |
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student's parent. |
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SECTION 3. Section 37.0021, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (k) and (l) to read as follows: |
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(k) Subject to Subsection (l), the commissioner by rule |
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shall adopt procedures relating to training for school district |
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personnel in de-escalation techniques. The procedures must |
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include: |
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(1) standards for determining: |
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(A) which personnel, including support staff and |
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law enforcement, should receive the training; and |
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(B) the amount of training the personnel should |
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receive, with priority for a higher degree of training that |
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includes physical interventions given to personnel who are exposed |
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to the greatest risk of student-involved crisis; and |
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(2) recommendations regarding the minimum frequency |
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of retraining necessary, which may be: |
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(A) an annual course; or |
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(B) as needed, based on the students served by |
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the personnel. |
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(l) Notwithstanding any other law, any de-escalation |
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technique training requirement adopted under Subsection (k) is not |
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an additional training requirement and may be combined with or |
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substituted, provided the de-escalation training addresses a |
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majority of the content covered in the substituted training, for |
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other related trainings, including: |
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(1) trauma-informed care training required under |
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Section 38.036(c); and |
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(2) training on strategies for establishing and |
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maintaining positive relationships among students, including |
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conflict resolution, required as part of a school district's staff |
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development under Section 21.451(d). |
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SECTION 4. Section 37.115(c), Education Code, as amended by |
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Chapters 896 (H.B. 3) and 948 (S.B. 1720), Acts of the 88th |
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Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, is reenacted and amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) The board of trustees of each school district shall |
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establish a threat assessment and safe and supportive school team |
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to serve at each campus of the district and shall adopt policies and |
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procedures for the teams. The team is responsible for developing |
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and implementing the safe and supportive school program under |
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Subsection (b) at the district campus served by the team. The |
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policies and procedures adopted under this section must: |
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(1) be consistent with the model policies and |
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procedures developed by the Texas School Safety Center; |
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(2) require each team to complete training provided by |
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the Texas School Safety Center or a regional education service |
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center regarding evidence-based threat assessment programs; |
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(3) require each team established under this section |
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to report the information required under Subsection (k) regarding |
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the team's activities to the agency; [and] |
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(4) provide for: |
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(A) a district employee who reports a potential |
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threat to a team to elect for the employee's identity to be |
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confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, |
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Government Code, except as necessary for the team, the district, or |
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law enforcement to investigate the potential threat; and |
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(B) the district to maintain a record of the |
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identity of a district employee who elects for the employee's |
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identity to be confidential under Paragraph (A); |
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(5) [(4)] require each district campus to establish a |
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clear procedure for a student to report concerning behavior |
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exhibited by another student for assessment by the team or other |
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appropriate school employee; and |
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(6) encourage each team established under this section |
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to form an incident reduction committee to develop and implement |
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preventative and proactive incident reduction measures. |
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SECTION 5. To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails |
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over another Act of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025, |
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relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted |
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codes. |
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SECTION 6. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the commissioner of education shall adopt the rules |
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required by Section 37.0021(k), Education Code, as added by this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |