89R2556 MEW-D
By: Manuel H.B. No. 1187
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an elective course on community safety and firearm
safety 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 AND
FIREARM SAFETY. (a) A school district or open-enrollment charter
school may offer to students in grade 12 an elective course on
community safety and firearm safety 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; and
(C) self-defense tactics; 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 or sexual assault, the teacher shall provide the
student with information regarding appropriately licensed health
professionals.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2026-2027
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, 2025.