| 1 | 1 | | 88R20305 ANG-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Allison, Meza H.B. No. 4845 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the establishment of a bullying prevention pilot |
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| 8 | 8 | | program for public schools. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 37, Education Code, is |
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| 11 | 11 | | amended by adding Section 37.0835 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 37.0835. BULLYING PREVENTION PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In |
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| 13 | 13 | | this section: |
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| 14 | 14 | | (1) "Bullying" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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| 15 | 15 | | 37.0832. |
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| 16 | 16 | | (2) "Pilot program" means the bullying prevention |
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| 17 | 17 | | pilot program established under this section. |
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| 18 | 18 | | (b) The agency shall: |
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| 19 | 19 | | (1) develop a bullying prevention pilot program to |
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| 20 | 20 | | reduce incidents of bullying on public school campuses; and |
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| 21 | 21 | | (2) award grants to eligible school districts to |
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| 22 | 22 | | implement the pilot program on district campuses. |
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| 23 | 23 | | (c) In developing the pilot program under Subsection (b), |
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| 24 | 24 | | the agency shall: |
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| 25 | 25 | | (1) use research-based best practices for the |
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| 26 | 26 | | prevention of bullying; and |
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| 27 | 27 | | (2) collaborate with qualified experts and |
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| 28 | 28 | | researchers with experience in child and youth psychology, mental |
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| 29 | 29 | | health, and education. |
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| 30 | 30 | | (d) From funds appropriated for the purpose, the |
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| 31 | 31 | | commissioner shall award grants to school districts that |
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| 32 | 32 | | demonstrate a substantial need for bullying prevention, as |
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| 33 | 33 | | determined by the commissioner. A school district that is awarded a |
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| 34 | 34 | | grant under this subsection shall implement the pilot program at |
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| 35 | 35 | | not more than three campuses in the district. |
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| 36 | 36 | | (e) The agency shall use funds appropriated for purposes of |
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| 37 | 37 | | the pilot program under this section to provide technical |
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| 38 | 38 | | assistance to grant recipients. The agency may provide technical |
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| 39 | 39 | | assistance through regional education service centers. |
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| 40 | 40 | | (f) The commissioner shall: |
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| 41 | 41 | | (1) establish application criteria for a school |
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| 42 | 42 | | district to apply to receive a grant under this section; and |
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| 43 | 43 | | (2) determine allowable uses of grant funds by a |
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| 44 | 44 | | school district under this section. |
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| 45 | 45 | | (g) The commissioner may use funds otherwise available and |
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| 46 | 46 | | may solicit or accept grants or donations to implement this |
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| 47 | 47 | | section. |
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| 48 | 48 | | (h) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to |
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| 49 | 49 | | implement this section. |
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| 50 | 50 | | (i) The commissioner is not required to develop the pilot |
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| 51 | 51 | | program or award grants under this section unless money is |
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| 52 | 52 | | specifically appropriated for that purpose. |
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| 53 | 53 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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