88R3134 JTZ-D
By: Thierry H.B. No. 669
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to school districts and open-enrollment charter schools
providing panic alert devices in classrooms.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as Alyssa's Law.
SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 37, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 37.117 to read as follows:
Sec. 37.117. PANIC ALERT DEVICE. (a) Each school district
and open-enrollment charter school shall provide each classroom in
the district or school with a panic alert device that allows for
immediate contact with district or school emergency services or
emergency services agencies, law enforcement agencies, health
departments, and fire departments.
(b) A panic alert device provided by a school district or
open-enrollment charter school under this section does not satisfy
the requirement under Section 37.108(a)(2) for the district or
school to ensure employees have classroom access to a telephone or
another electronic communication device.
(c) To comply with this section, a school district or
open-enrollment charter school may:
(1) use funds provided to the district or school
through the school safety allotment under Section 48.115 or other
available funds; and
(2) use the district's or school's customary
procurement process.
SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026
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.