88R8070 BDP-D
By: Manuel H.B. No. 2104
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to requiring a school district to employ a social worker to
assist district security personnel and oversee the district's
threat assessment and safe and supportive school teams.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 37, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 37.08135 to read as follows:
Sec. 37.08135. SOCIAL WORKER REQUIRED. The board of
trustees of each school district shall employ one or more social
workers licensed under Chapter 505, Occupations Code, to work with
the district's peace officers, school resource officers, or other
security personnel to:
(1) identify and address underlying student behaviors
related to social, emotional, behavioral, mental, or substance
abuse issues;
(2) assist with emergency situations at the district;
and
(3) provide wrap-around services, case management,
and ongoing support to students enrolled at the district and the
students' families.
SECTION 2. Section 37.115(e), Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(e) The superintendent of a school district shall assign to
a social worker employed by the district under Section 37.08135
[may establish a committee, or assign to an existing committee
established by the district,] the duty to oversee the operations of
teams established for the district. The superintendent may
establish a committee, or assign to an existing committee
established by the district, the duty to assist a social worker with
oversight responsibility under this subsection. A committee [with
oversight responsibility] under this subsection must include
members with expertise in human resources, education, special
education, counseling, behavior management, school administration,
mental health and substance use, school safety and security,
emergency management, and law enforcement.
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, 2023.