88R20103 MEW-D
By: Manuel, Bailes, Guillen, Raymond, Cain, H.B. No. 2090
et al.
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2090:
By: Thompson of Harris C.S.H.B. No. 2090
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an elective course on community safety, firearm safety,
and mental health for certain public high school students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 28.0121 to read as follows:
Sec. 28.0121. ELECTIVE COURSE ON COMMUNITY SAFETY, FIREARM
SAFETY, AND MENTAL HEALTH. (a) A school district or
open-enrollment charter school may offer to students in grade 12 an
elective course on community safety, firearm safety, and mental
health that meets the requirements for an elective credit under
Section 28.025.
(b) A course under this section must include:
(1) during the first half of the course for which a
student may earn one-half elective credit, instruction relating to:
(A) family violence prevention, including
relevant family violence education;
(B) sexual assault prevention, including
relevant sexual assault education;
(C) self-defense tactics; and
(D) mental health education; and
(2) during the second half of the course for which a
student may earn one-half elective credit:
(A) instruction relating to firearm safety,
including relevant firearm education;
(B) information on state and federal laws
governing the use of firearms; and
(C) information contained in the classroom
instruction portion of the handgun proficiency course described by
Section 411.188, Government Code.
(c) A student may not enroll in the second half of a course
under this section unless the student has satisfactorily completed
the first half of the course.
(d) If during the course of instruction, a student enrolled
in a course under this section discloses to a teacher that the
student has been a victim of or is experiencing issues relating to
family violence, sexual assault, or mental health, the teacher
shall provide the student with information regarding appropriately
licensed health professionals.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2024-2025
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, 2023.