87R5993 GCB-D
By: Menéndez S.B. No. 2057
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a matching grant program for school districts for the
development and implementation of programs to address the social,
emotional, and behavioral needs of students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 38, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 38.354 to read as follows:
Sec. 38.354. MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM. (a) Subject to the
availability of federal or state-appropriated funds, the
commissioner shall establish a program under which grants are
awarded to school districts in an amount to match the amount of
funds pledged by the district to develop and implement programs
addressing the social, emotional, and behavioral needs of students.
Funds used by a district to establish a program under this section
must be funds received by the district through the school safety
allotment as provided by Section 48.115.
(b) In awarding grants under this section, the commissioner
shall prioritize the award of grants to school districts located in
rural areas and areas that have low property wealth per student.
(c) A program developed by a school district using a grant
awarded under this section must include research-based practices
and may include training, technical assistance, mentoring,
coaching, and evaluation services for district personnel and
program participants.
(d) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to
establish the matching grant program under this section.
SECTION 2. Section 42.168, Education Code, as added by
Chapter 464 (S.B. 11), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2019, is transferred to Subchapter C, Chapter 48,
Education Code, redesignated as Section 48.115, Education Code, and
amended to conform to changes made by Chapter 943 (H.B. 3), Acts of
the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019, to read as follows:
Sec. 48.115 [42.168]. SCHOOL SAFETY ALLOTMENT. (a) In
this section, "postvention" has the meaning assigned by Section
38.351.
(b) From funds appropriated for that purpose, the
commissioner shall provide to a school district an annual allotment
in the amount provided by appropriation for each student in average
daily attendance.
(c) [(b)] Funds allocated under this section must be used to
improve school safety and security, including costs associated
with:
(1) securing school facilities, including:
(A) improvements to school infrastructure;
(B) the use or installation of physical barriers;
and
(C) the purchase and maintenance of:
(i) security cameras or other security
equipment; and
(ii) technology, including communications
systems or devices, that facilitates communication and information
sharing between students, school personnel, and first responders in
an emergency;
(2) providing security for the district, including:
(A) employing school district peace officers,
private security officers, and school marshals; and
(B) collaborating with local law enforcement
agencies, such as entering into a memorandum of understanding for
the assignment of school resource officers to schools in the
district;
(3) school safety and security training and planning,
including:
(A) active shooter and emergency response
training;
(B) prevention and treatment programs relating
to addressing adverse childhood experiences; and
(C) the prevention, identification, and
management of emergencies and threats, including:
(i) providing mental health personnel and
support;
(ii) providing behavioral health services;
and
(iii) establishing threat reporting
systems; and
(4) providing programs related to the social,
emotional, and behavioral needs of students, including programs
related to suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.
(d) [(c)] A school district may use funds allocated under
this section for equipment or software that is used for a school
safety and security purpose and an instructional purpose, provided
that the instructional use does not compromise the safety and
security purpose of the equipment or software.
(e) [(d)] A school district that is required to take action
under Chapter 49 [41] to reduce its local revenue level [wealth per
student] to the [equalized wealth] level established under Section
48.257 is entitled to a credit, in the amount of the allotments to
which the district is to receive as provided by appropriation,
against the total amount required under Section 49.153 [41.093] for
the district to purchase attendance credit [credits].
(f) [(e)] The commissioner may adopt rules to implement
this section.
SECTION 3. To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails
over another Act of the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021,
relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted
codes.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.