S.B. No. 1109
AN ACT
relating to requiring public schools to provide instruction and
materials and adopt policies relating to the prevention of child
abuse, family violence, and dating violence.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Christine Blubaugh
Act.
SECTION 2. Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (u) to read as follows:
(u) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules requiring
students to receive instruction on the prevention of child abuse,
family violence, and dating violence at least once in middle or
junior high school and at least twice in high school. The
instruction must include information on:
(1) the dating violence policy adopted by the
student's school district under Section 37.0831;
(2) the prevalence of dating violence and the
recognition of abuse warning signs;
(3) the procedures for reporting violence or abuse;
and
(4) educational materials or resources available to
students under Section 37.0831(c).
SECTION 3. The heading to Section 37.0831, Education Code,
is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 37.0831. DATING VIOLENCE POLICIES; EDUCATIONAL
MATERIALS AND RESOURCES.
SECTION 4. Section 37.0831, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
follows:
(b) A dating violence policy must:
(1) include:
(A) a definition of dating violence that includes
the intentional use of physical, sexual, verbal, or emotional abuse
by a person to harm, threaten, intimidate, or control another
person in a dating relationship, as defined by Section 71.0021,
Family Code;
(B) a clear statement that dating violence is not
tolerated at school;
(C) reporting procedures and guidelines for
students who are victims of dating violence; and
(D) information regarding the instruction on the
prevention of dating violence required under Section 28.002(u); and
(2) address safety planning, enforcement of
protective orders, school-based alternatives to protective orders,
training for teachers and administrators, counseling for affected
students, and awareness education for students and parents.
(c) To the extent possible, a school district shall make
available to students:
(1) age-appropriate educational materials that
include information on the dangers of dating violence; and
(2) resources to students seeking help.
SECTION 5. This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022
school year.
SECTION 6. 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.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1109 passed the Senate on
May 4, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 2; and that the
Senate concurred in House amendment on May 29, 2021, by the
following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1109 passed the House, with
amendment, on May 26, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 99,
Nays 48, two present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor