87R22655 JES-D
By: Thierry, Bonnen, Patterson, et al. H.B. No. 204
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 204:
By: Dutton C.S.H.B. No. 204
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to school districts and open-enrollment charter schools
providing panic alert devices in classrooms.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as Alyssa's Law.
SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 37, Education Code, is
amended by adding Sections 37.116 and 37.117 to read as follows:
Sec. 37.116. PANIC ALERT DEVICE. (a) Except as provided by
Section 37.117, each school district and open-enrollment charter
school shall provide each classroom in the district or school with a
panic alert device that allows for immediate contact with district
emergency services or emergency services agencies, law enforcement
agencies, health departments, and fire departments.
(b) A panic alert device provided by a school district or
open-enrollment charter school under this section does not satisfy
the requirement under Section 37.108(a)(2) for the district or
school to ensure employees have classroom access to a telephone or
another electronic communication device.
(c) To comply with this section, a school district or
open-enrollment charter school may:
(1) use funds provided to the district or school
through the school safety allotment under Section 42.168 or other
available funds; and
(2) use the district's or school's customary
procurement process.
Sec. 37.117. PANIC ALERT DEVICE OPT-OUT RESOLUTION. The
board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of an
open-enrollment charter school may elect not to provide panic alert
devices as required by Section 37.116 if the board or governing body
determines that the district or school does not have sufficient
money available to provide the devices. An election made under this
section must be authorized by a resolution adopted by majority vote
of the board or governing body in an open meeting.
SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024
school year.
SECTION 4. 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.