Texas 2019 86th Regular

Texas House Bill HB111 Introduced / Bill

Filed 11/12/2018

                    86R930 MM-F
 By: González of El Paso H.B. No. 111


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to training for employees of school districts and
 open-enrollment charter schools on the prevention of sexual abuse,
 sex trafficking, and other maltreatment of certain children.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Section 38.0041(c), Education Code, is amended
 to read as follows:
 (c)  The methods under Subsection (b)(1) for increasing
 awareness of issues regarding sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and
 other maltreatment of children must include training, as provided
 by this subsection, concerning prevention techniques for and
 recognition of sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and all other
 maltreatment of children, including the sexual abuse, sex
 trafficking, and other maltreatment of children with significant
 cognitive disabilities in both educational and noneducational
 settings.  The training:
 (1)  must be provided, as part of a new employee
 orientation, to all new school district and open-enrollment charter
 school employees and to existing district and open-enrollment
 charter school employees on a schedule adopted by the agency by rule
 until all district and open-enrollment charter school employees
 have taken the training; and
 (2)  must include training concerning:
 (A)  factors indicating a child is at risk for
 sexual abuse, sex trafficking, or other maltreatment;
 (B)  likely warning signs indicating a child may
 be a victim of sexual abuse, sex trafficking, or other
 maltreatment;
 (C)  internal procedures for seeking assistance
 for a child who is at risk for sexual abuse, sex trafficking, or
 other maltreatment, including referral to a school counselor, a
 social worker, or another mental health professional;
 (D)  techniques for reducing a child's risk of
 sexual abuse, sex trafficking, or other maltreatment; and
 (E)  community organizations that have relevant
 existing research-based programs that are able to provide training
 or other education for school district or open-enrollment charter
 school staff members, students, and parents.
 SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020
 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, 2019.