TX
Texas House Bill HB2206

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2206

Voted on by House
 
Out of Senate Committee
 
Voted on by Senate
 
Governor Action
 
Bill Becomes Law
 

Caption

Relating to the reporting of certain public school employee misconduct to local law enforcement.

Impact

If passed, this legislation would amend Sections 21.006 and 22.093 of the Texas Education Code, introducing specific duties for school administrators in reporting educator misconduct. The bill signifies a shift toward a more proactive stance on accountability, where failure to report specific alleged misconduct could result in administrative penalties up to $10,000. The bill highlights the importance of timely action in matters involving potential criminal behavior by educators, fostering a culture of transparency within public schools.

Summary

House Bill 2206 centers on enhancing the accountability and transparency in addressing misconduct among public school employees. This bill mandates that school superintendents or directors must report allegations of misconduct to local law enforcement within 48 hours once they become aware of such allegations. By formalizing this requirement, HB2206 aims to ensure that serious incidents involving educators are guided through appropriate legal channels, thereby promoting a safer educational environment for students and staff alike.

Contention

While proponents of HB2206 argue that this measure is necessary to protect students and ensure that educators are held accountable for misconduct, there are concerns regarding its implementation. Critics may raise issues about the balance of responsibilities and the potential for misreporting, which could lead to unjust legal consequences for educators. Furthermore, the bill introduces the possibility of criminal charges for educators who knowingly fail to report misconduct, classifying such failures as state jail felonies, which raises ethical and legal questions about the ramifications of this additional burden on school administrators.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Education Code

  • Chapter 21. Educators
    • Section: New Section
  • Chapter 22. School District Employees And Volunteers
    • Section: New Section

Companion Bills

TX SB1224

Identical Relating to the reporting of certain public or private school employee misconduct to local law enforcement.

Previously Filed As

TX HB4978

Relating to reports of certain misconduct committed by an employee of a public school, regional education service center, or shared services arrangement and a study by the Texas Education Agency regarding employee misconduct reporting mechanisms.

TX HB122

Relating to reports of certain misconduct engaged in by an employee of a public school, regional education service center, or shared services arrangement and a study by the Texas Education Agency regarding employee misconduct reporting mechanisms.

TX HB2721

Relating to accelerated and supplemental instruction provided to public school students who fail to achieve satisfactory performance on certain assessment instruments and access to criminal history record information for certain tutors providing that instruction.

TX HB2519

Relating to law enforcement misconduct and law enforcement interactions with certain detained or arrested individuals and other members of the public, to public entity liability for those interactions, and to the confinement, conviction, or release of detained or arrested individuals.

TX HB4979

Relating to measures for ensuring safety and security in public schools, including measures related to certain student records and conduct.

TX SB1849

Relating to an interagency reportable conduct search engine, standards for a person's removal from the employee misconduct registry and eligibility for certification as certain Texas Juvenile Justice Department officers and employees, and the use of certain information by certain state agencies to conduct background checks.

TX HB1537

Relating to the submission by law enforcement agencies to certain public school personnel of a handle with care notice concerning a traumatic event experienced by a public school student and to certain required training regarding those notices.

TX SB11

Relating to measures for ensuring safety and security in public schools, including measures related to the health and safety of public school students and active shooter training for certain peace officers.

TX HB516

Relating to requiring a school district or open-enrollment charter school to report data regarding certain disciplinary or law enforcement actions taken against students.

TX HB4966

Relating to law enforcement agency personnel records and the reporting of separations of license holders to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

Similar Bills

TX SB1224

Relating to the reporting of certain public or private school employee misconduct to local law enforcement.

TX SB1743

Relating to the creation of the office of inspector general for education at the Texas Education Agency to investigate the administration of public education and required reporting on misconduct by employees of certain educational entities; creating a criminal offense; increasing an administrative penalty; authorizing an administrative penalty.

TX HB3617

Relating to the creation of the office of inspector general for education at the Texas Education Agency to investigate the administration of public education and required reporting on misconduct by employees of certain educational entities; creating a criminal offense; increasing an administrative penalty; authorizing an administrative penalty.

TX HB4206

Relating to the creation of the office of inspector general for education at the Texas Education Agency to investigate the administration of public education and required reporting on misconduct by employees of certain educational entities; creating a criminal offense; increasing an administrative penalty; authorizing an administrative penalty.

TX HB3347

Relating to person not eligible for employment in public schools and to measures to ensure publics schools do not employ those persons.

TX SB1890

Relating to employing, terminating, and reporting misconduct of public school personnel and related entity personnel, including creating a registry of persons ineligible for hire; creating a criminal offense.

TX HB1799

Relating to employing, terminating, and reporting misconduct of public school personnel and related entity personnel, including creating a registry of persons ineligible for hire; creating a criminal offense.

TX SB1256

Relating to employing, terminating, and reporting the misconduct of public school personnel and related entity personnel, including creating a registry of persons ineligible for hire; creating criminal offenses.