BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 222 By: Talarico Public Education Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Particularly in the years following pandemic-related school shutdowns, schools across Texas have been struggling with an increase in student behavioral challenges, leading to a rise in disruptions in the classroom and weakened student-teacher relationships. When these challenges go unaddressed, they can escalate into behaviors that threaten the safety of staff and other students. However, according to witness testimony provided to the House Public Education Committee, many teachers have not received any type of training on classroom behavioral management or de-escalation techniques to help them effectively address negative student behaviors before they escalate into a classroom safety threat. The school safety allotment serves as an invaluable financial resource for public school districts seeking to address student behavioral challenges and to improve classroom safety, but the authorized uses of this allotment do not currently include services for teachers like classroom behavioral management or de-escalation trainings. H.B. 222 seeks to improve school safety and mitigate challenging student behavior by authorizing districts to use school safety allotment funding on classroom behavioral management training for educators. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 222 amends the Education Code to specify that providing professional development for educators that includes training in classroom behavioral management constitutes an authorized use of funds allocated under the school safety allotment to improve school safety and security measures. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 222
By: Talarico
Public Education
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 222
By: Talarico
Public Education
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Particularly in the years following pandemic-related school shutdowns, schools across Texas have been struggling with an increase in student behavioral challenges, leading to a rise in disruptions in the classroom and weakened student-teacher relationships. When these challenges go unaddressed, they can escalate into behaviors that threaten the safety of staff and other students. However, according to witness testimony provided to the House Public Education Committee, many teachers have not received any type of training on classroom behavioral management or de-escalation techniques to help them effectively address negative student behaviors before they escalate into a classroom safety threat. The school safety allotment serves as an invaluable financial resource for public school districts seeking to address student behavioral challenges and to improve classroom safety, but the authorized uses of this allotment do not currently include services for teachers like classroom behavioral management or de-escalation trainings. H.B. 222 seeks to improve school safety and mitigate challenging student behavior by authorizing districts to use school safety allotment funding on classroom behavioral management training for educators.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 222 amends the Education Code to specify that providing professional development for educators that includes training in classroom behavioral management constitutes an authorized use of funds allocated under the school safety allotment to improve school safety and security measures.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Particularly in the years following pandemic-related school shutdowns, schools across Texas have been struggling with an increase in student behavioral challenges, leading to a rise in disruptions in the classroom and weakened student-teacher relationships. When these challenges go unaddressed, they can escalate into behaviors that threaten the safety of staff and other students. However, according to witness testimony provided to the House Public Education Committee, many teachers have not received any type of training on classroom behavioral management or de-escalation techniques to help them effectively address negative student behaviors before they escalate into a classroom safety threat.
The school safety allotment serves as an invaluable financial resource for public school districts seeking to address student behavioral challenges and to improve classroom safety, but the authorized uses of this allotment do not currently include services for teachers like classroom behavioral management or de-escalation trainings. H.B. 222 seeks to improve school safety and mitigate challenging student behavior by authorizing districts to use school safety allotment funding on classroom behavioral management training for educators.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 222 amends the Education Code to specify that providing professional development for educators that includes training in classroom behavioral management constitutes an authorized use of funds allocated under the school safety allotment to improve school safety and security measures.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2025.