86R7997 MM-F
By: González of El Paso, Meyer, Button H.B. No. 111
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to public school policy and training for public school
employees addressing 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. Sections 38.0041(a), (a-1), (b), and (c),
Education Code, as amended by Chapter 762 (S.B. 2039), Acts of the
85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, are reenacted and amended
to read as follows:
(a) Each school district and open-enrollment charter school
shall adopt and implement a policy addressing sexual abuse, sex
trafficking, and other maltreatment of children, to be included in
the district improvement plan under Section 11.252 and any
informational handbook provided to students and parents.
(a-1) A school district may collaborate with local law
enforcement and outside consultants with expertise in the
prevention of sexual abuse and sex trafficking to create the policy
required under Subsection (a), and to create a referral protocol
for high-risk students.
(b) A policy required by this section must address:
(1) methods for increasing staff, student, and parent
awareness of issues regarding sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and
other maltreatment of children, including prevention techniques
and knowledge of likely warning signs indicating that a child may be
a victim of sexual abuse, sex trafficking, or other maltreatment,
using resources developed by the agency or the commissioner
regarding those issues, including resources developed by the agency
under Section 38.004 [or by the commissioner under Section 28.017];
(2) actions that a child who is a victim of sexual
abuse, sex trafficking, or other maltreatment should take to obtain
assistance and intervention; and
(3) available counseling options for students
affected by sexual abuse, sex trafficking, or other maltreatment.
(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. 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.