87R726 JES-D
By: Powell S.B. No. 238
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of the school safety allotment for a school
district's pandemic preparation and response.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. 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, and is further amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 48.115 [42.168]. SCHOOL SAFETY ALLOTMENT. (a) 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.
(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 suicide prevention,
intervention, and postvention; and
(5) school health and safety efforts relating to
pandemic preparation and response, including:
(A) employing school nurses; and
(B) purchasing:
(i) diagnostic testing equipment; and
(ii) personal protective equipment.
(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.
(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].
(e) The commissioner may adopt rules to implement this
section.
SECTION 2. 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 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.