Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HB462 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	By: Guillen H.B. No. 462
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6	6	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
7	7	AN ACT
8	8	relating to the armed security officers required to be present at
9	9	public schools and the permissible uses of the school safety
10	10	allotment and the creation of a mental health allotment under the
11	11	Foundation School Program.
12	12	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
13	13	SECTION 1. Section 37.0814(b), Education Code, is amended
14	14	to read as follows:
15	15	(b) A security officer described by Subsection (a) must be:
16	16	(1) a school district peace officer;
17	17	(2) a school resource officer; [or]
18	18	(3) a commissioned peace officer employed as security
19	19	personnel under Section 37.081; or
20	20	(4) a canine unit, as defined by Section 108.001,
21	21	Business & Commerce Code.
22	22	SECTION 2. Section 48.115, Education Code, is amended by
23	23	amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections (a-2) and
24	24	(a-3) to read as follows:
25	25	(a) Except as provided by Subsection (a-1) and subject to
26	26	Subsection (a-2), a school district is entitled to an annual
27	27	allotment equal to the sum of the following amounts or a greater
28	28	amount provided by appropriation:
29	29	(1) $100 [$10] for each student in average daily
30	30	attendance, plus $1 for each student in average daily attendance
31	31	per every $50 by which the district's maximum basic allotment under
32	32	Section 48.051 exceeds $6,160, prorated as necessary; and
33	33	(2) $100,000 [$15,000] per campus.
34	34	(a-2) To be eligible to receive an allotment under this
35	35	section, a school district must ensure that:
36	36	(1) at least one security officer described by Section
37	37	37.0814(b) armed with a firearm is present at each district campus
38	38	during regular school hours; and
39	39	(2) at least one school marshal or security officer
40	40	described by Section 37.0814(b) who has received training
41	41	comparable to the training required for a school marshal under
42	42	Section 1701.260(c), Occupations Code, and is armed with a firearm
43	43	is appointed, assigned, or employed by the district for every 200
44	44	students enrolled at the district.
45	45	(a-3) Requirements under subsection (a-2)(2) can also be
46	46	met via at least one remote-human-operated aerial device described
47	47	by Article 2.33(a)(1), Code of Criminal Procedure, deployed or
48	48	contracted by the district at each district campus providing less
49	49	lethal interdiction capability by means of air-based irritant
50	50	delivery or other mechanisms for every 200 students enrolled at the
51	51	district.
52	52	(b) Funds allocated under this section must be used to
53	53	improve school safety and security, including costs associated
54	54	with:
55	55	(1) securing school facilities in accordance with the
56	56	requirements of Section 37.351, including:
57	57	(A) improvements to school infrastructure;
58	58	(B) the use or installation of perimeter security
59	59	fencing conducive to a public school learning environment or
60	60	physical barriers, which may not include razor wire;
61	61	(C) exterior door and window safety and security
62	62	upgrades, including exterior door numbering and locking systems and
63	63	security film that provides resistance to a forced entry; and
64	64	(D) the purchase and maintenance of:
65	65	(i) security cameras and, if the district
66	66	has already installed security cameras, other security equipment,
67	67	including video surveillance as provided by Section 29.022; and
68	68	(ii) technology, including communications
69	69	systems or devices, such as silent panic alert devices, two-way
70	70	radios, or wireless Internet booster equipment, that facilitates
71	71	communication and information sharing between students, school
72	72	personnel, and first responders in an emergency;
73	73	(2) providing security for the district, including:
74	74	(A) employing school district peace officers,
75	75	private security officers, and school marshals; and
76	76	(B) collaborating with local law enforcement
77	77	agencies, such as entering into a memorandum of understanding for
78	78	the assignment of school resource officers to schools in the
79	79	district;
80	80	(3) school safety and security measures, including:
81	81	(A) active shooter and emergency response
82	82	training;
83	83	(B) prevention and treatment programs relating
84	84	to addressing adverse childhood experiences; and
85	85	(C) the prevention, identification, and
86	86	management of emergencies and threats, using evidence-based,
87	87	effective prevention practices and including the establishment of
88	88	[:
89	89	(i) providing licensed counselors, social
90	90	workers, chaplains, and individuals trained in restorative
91	91	discipline and restorative justice practices;
92	92	(ii) providing mental health personnel and
93	93	support, including chaplains;
94	94	(iii) providing behavioral health
95	95	services, including services provided by chaplains;
96	96	(iv)] threat reporting systems;[and
97	97	(v) developing and implementing programs
98	98	focused on restorative justice practices, culturally relevant
99	99	instruction, and providing mental health support, including
100	100	support provided by chaplains;]
101	101	[(4) providing programs related to suicide prevention,
102	102	intervention, and postvention, including programs provided by
103	103	chaplains;] and
104	104	(4) [(5)] employing a school safety director and other
105	105	personnel to manage and monitor school safety initiatives and the
106	106	implementation of school safety requirements for the district.
107	107	SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 48, Education Code, is
108	108	amended by adding Section 48.117 to read as follows:
109	109	Sec. 48.117. MENTAL HEALTH ALLOTMENT. (a) A school
110	110	district is entitled to an annual allotment of $100,000 or a greater
111	111	amount provided by appropriation to support mental health services
112	112	at the district.
113	113	(b) In addition to the allotment under Subsection (a), a
114	114	school district that receives an allotment under Section 48.101 or
115	115	at which more than 50 percent of enrolled students are
116	116	educationally disadvantaged is entitled to an allotment for each
117	117	student enrolled in the district in an amount provided by
118	118	appropriation.
119	119	(c) Funds allocated under this section:
120	120	(1) must be used to develop or enhance a comprehensive
121	121	school mental health system that, through the implementation of
122	122	programs, practices, and procedures in accordance with Section
123	123	38.351, provides a tiered array of supports and services in the
124	124	educational setting, including support provided by chaplains, that
125	125	contribute to:
126	126	(A) a positive school climate;
127	127	(B) the development of skills related to managing
128	128	emotions, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and
129	129	responsible decision-making;
130	130	(C) the learning and well-being of students with
131	131	or at risk of mental health or substance use conditions;
132	132	(D) family and community engagement;
133	133	(E) reduced exclusionary discipline practices;
134	134	and
135	135	(F) staff wellness; and
136	136	(2) may be used to pay for costs associated with:
137	137	(A) the salary of school personnel, including
138	138	chaplains, responsible for planning, coordinating, delivering, or
139	139	monitoring supports and services described by Subdivision (1);
140	140	(B) training school personnel regarding
141	141	effective practices and district and campus procedures to support
142	142	student mental health;
143	143	(C) a contract-based collaborative effort or
144	144	partnership with one or more local community programs, agencies, or
145	145	providers, including programs provided by chaplains; and
146	146	(D) developing and implementing programs focused
147	147	on restorative justice practices, including programs provided by
148	148	chaplains.
149	149	(d) Funds allocated for purposes of this section may not be
150	150	used to supplant any other funds that may be provided for the same
151	151	purpose.
152	152	(e) Not later than June 1 of each year and in accordance with
153	153	commissioner rule, each school district shall submit to the
154	154	commissioner information regarding the outcomes and expenditures
155	155	related to funds allocated to the district under this section.
156	156	(f) Not later than September 1 of each year, the
157	157	commissioner shall publish a report regarding the use of funds
158	158	allocated under this section during the preceding school year,
159	159	including information regarding the programs, personnel, and
160	160	resources implemented, employed, or purchased by school districts
161	161	using the funds and other purposes for which the funds were used.
162	162	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.