Texas House Bill HB1732

Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Caption

Relating to requiring a school district or open-enrollment charter school to report data regarding restraints administered to, complaints filed against, citations issued to, and arrests made of students.

Impact

The bill's impact on state law is significant, as it introduces a systematic approach to documenting and monitoring the use of restraints and law enforcement actions within schools. By requiring detailed incident-based reports to be submitted to a designated agency, the bill aims to provide a clearer picture of school safety and student treatment. This legislative measure is expected to inform policy decisions and foster discussions around best practices in school discipline and crisis management.

Summary

House Bill 1732 seeks to standardize the reporting requirements for school districts and open-enrollment charter schools regarding incidents involving students. Specifically, the bill mandates that schools must report data concerning physical restraints administered to students, complaints filed against them, citations issued, and arrests made. This initiative is designed to ensure transparency and accountability in how schools handle disciplinary actions and interactions with law enforcement, thereby promoting a safer educational environment for students.

Contention

Notably, there may be areas of contention surrounding this bill, particularly regarding privacy concerns. While the data collected is intended to be anonymized to protect student identities, the potential for misuse or misinterpretation of the data remains a concern among stakeholders. Critics may argue that the bill could lead to increased mistrust between students and school authorities or may not effectively address underlying issues of discrimination or profiling. Additionally, there may be debates about the adequacy of the reporting measures and whether they sufficiently cover the complexities related to student behavior and disciplinary actions.