TX
Texas House Bill HB3991

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3991

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

Caption

Relating to misconduct by public school employees and to persons who must be listed in the registry of persons not eligible for employment in public schools.

Impact

If passed, HB 3991 would amend existing sections of the Education Code to include fines for non-compliance with reporting requirements, thus reinforcing the need for school districts to act promptly upon discovering any alleged misconduct. This legislation aims to improve public safety by ensuring that individuals with confirmed allegations of misconduct cannot gain employment within public schools, thus protecting the welfare of students.

Summary

House Bill 3991 addresses misconduct among public school employees in Texas and establishes a registry for individuals who are not eligible for employment in public schools. The bill lays out specific acts that constitute misconduct, such as abuse, neglect, engaging in inappropriate relationships with students, and possession or distribution of illegal substances. Furthermore, it mandates timely reporting and notification processes by school administrators regarding any such misconduct, thereby enhancing the accountability of educational institutions in safeguarding students.

Contention

There may be contention surrounding how the bill defines misconduct and the implications it has on educators' professional careers—especially for those who may face allegations that turn out to be unfounded. Critics may argue that the stringent reporting requirements could lead to unnecessary public exposure and damage to the reputations of educators before thorough investigations are conducted. Moreover, the mechanics of how individuals can contest their inclusion in the registry remain a point of concern, particularly regarding fairness and due process.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Education Code

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

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

TX HB3793

Relating to the registry maintained by the Texas Education Agency of persons who are not eligible to be employed by public schools.

TX HB3791

Relating to access to the registry of persons who are not eligible for employment at public schools.

TX HB3201

Relating to access to the registry of persons who are not eligible for employment in public schools.

TX SB1470

Relating to access to the registry of persons who are not eligible for employment in public schools.

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 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 HB5266

Relating to speech protections for student media publications in public schools.

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 HB3255

Relating to emergency response management training for certain administrators and security personnel at public schools.

Similar Bills

CA AB2534

Certificated employees: disclosures: egregious misconduct.

AZ SB1626

Sexual misconduct; universities; community colleges

DC B26-0029

Institution of Higher Education Sexual Misconduct Reporting and Resource Accessibility Act of 2025

CA AB1233

Noncertificated employees: applicants: previous employment: California School Information Services.

DC B25-0436

Institution of Higher Education Sexual Misconduct Reporting and Resource Accessibility Act of 2023

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.