By: Zwiener H.B. No. 1823
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the instruction about bullying and harassment in the
required health curriculum for public school students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 28.002(s), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(s) In this subsection, "bullying" has the meaning assigned
by Section 37.0832 and "harassment" has the meaning assigned by
Section 37.001. In addition to any other essential knowledge and
skills the State Board of Education adopts for the health
curriculum under Subsection (a)(2)(B), the board shall adopt for
the health curriculum, in consultation with the Texas School Safety
Center, essential knowledge and skills that include:
(1) evidence-based practices that will effectively
address awareness, prevention, identification, self-defense in
response to, and resolution of and intervention in bullying and
harassment; and
(2) evidence-based practices that will effectively
teach students respect for another person's autonomy and confidence
in protecting their own bodily autonomy.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022
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, 2021.