By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1302
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of a suicide awareness and prevention,
youth violence prevention, and social inclusion program for public
school students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 38, Education Code, is
amended by adding Sections 38.354, 38.355, and 38.356 to read as
follows:
Sec. 38.354. TRAINING FOR STUDENTS REGARDING SUICIDE
AWARENESS AND PREVENTION AND YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION. (a) Each
school year, a school district shall provide to students enrolled
in the district in grades 6 through 12 training regarding suicide
awareness and prevention and youth violence prevention. The
training must include:
(1) at least one hour or a standard class period of
evidence-based instruction regarding suicide awareness and
prevention with information and materials on:
(A) methods for identifying the signs and signals
of depression, suicide, and self-harm in the student's self and
other students; and
(B) the importance of and process for seeking
help for the student's self or another student; and
(2) at least one hour or a standard class period of
evidence-based instruction regarding youth violence prevention
with information and materials on:
(A) methods for identifying observable warning
signs and signals of a person who may be at risk of self-harm or harm
to others;
(B) the importance of taking threats seriously
and seeking help; and
(C) steps a student may take to report dangerous,
violent, threatening, harmful, or potentially harmful activity.
(b) A school district may provide the instruction required
under this section:
(1) in person or remotely; and
(2) through a single instructional program that
provides training regarding a combination of suicide awareness and
prevention and youth violence prevention.
(b-1) Beginning not later than the 2026-2027 school year,
each school district shall provide to students the training
required under this section. This subsection expires September 1,
2027.
(c) The agency shall develop and post on the agency's
publicly available Internet website a list of evidence-based
training and materials, including, if available, training and
materials provided at no cost, for school districts to use in
providing the training required under this section. The agency
shall review and update the list not less than every three years.
(c-1) The agency shall develop and post on the agency's
publicly available Internet website the list required under
Subsection (c) not later than August 31, 2024. This subsection
expires September 1, 2025.
(d) To pay for the costs of implementing this section, the
agency may:
(1) apply for federal funding; and
(2) use any funds appropriated or otherwise available
for the purposes of school safety and violence prevention.
Sec. 38.355. SOCIAL INCLUSION TRAINING FOR STUDENTS. (a)
Each school year, a school district shall provide to students
enrolled in the district in kindergarten through grade 12 training
regarding social inclusion. The training must include at least one
hour or a standard class period of evidence-based instruction that
includes information and materials regarding:
(1) what social isolation looks like and how to
identify social isolation in others;
(2) the importance of taking social isolation
seriously and seeking help for other students; and
(3) strategies for being more socially inclusive in
the classroom and community and to establish connections with other
students.
(b) A school district may provide the instruction required
under this section in person or remotely.
(b-1) Beginning not later than the 2026-2027 school year,
each school district shall provide to students the training
required under this section. This subsection expires September 1,
2027.
(c) The agency shall develop and post on the agency's
publicly available Internet website a list of evidence-based
training and materials, including, if available, training and
materials provided at no cost, for school districts to use in
providing the training required under this section. The agency
shall review and update the list not less than every three years.
(c-1) The agency shall develop and post on the agency's
publicly available Internet website the list required under
Subsection (c) not later than August 31, 2024. This subsection
expires September 1, 2025.
(d) To pay for the costs of implementing this section, the
agency may:
(1) apply for federal funding; and
(2) use any funds appropriated or otherwise available
for the purposes of school safety and violence prevention.
Sec. 38.356. SELF-HARM AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION STUDENT
CLUB. (a) Each school district may establish at each district
campus a self-harm and violence prevention club. The club must:
(1) be student-led;
(2) be open to all students enrolled at the campus; and
(3) have at least one identified adult advisor.
(b) The club must:
(1) support awareness activities related to suicide
and violence prevention and social inclusion, including training
provided in accordance with Sections 38.354 and 38.355; and
(2) foster opportunities for student leadership
development.
(b-1) Beginning not later than the 2024-2025 school year,
each school district may establish at each campus the student club
required under Subsection (a). This subsection expires September 1,
2025.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.