| 1 | 1 | | 89R12435 KRM-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Hancock S.B. No. 2691 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to grief instruction in public schools. |
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| 10 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 11 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
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| 12 | 12 | | amended by adding Section 28.019 to read as follows: |
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| 13 | 13 | | Sec. 28.019. INSTRUCTION ON GRIEF. (a) The State Board of |
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| 14 | 14 | | Education by rule shall require each school district to require |
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| 15 | 15 | | students enrolled in grades 8 through 12 to complete instruction on |
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| 16 | 16 | | grief under the district's health curriculum offered under Section |
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| 17 | 17 | | 28.002(a)(2)(B). |
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| 18 | 18 | | (b) The State Board of Education shall adopt essential |
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| 19 | 19 | | knowledge and skills for the instruction on grief that include |
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| 20 | 20 | | grade-level appropriate instruction relating to: |
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| 21 | 21 | | (1) the physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms |
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| 22 | 22 | | of grief; |
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| 23 | 23 | | (2) coping mechanisms and techniques to process grief |
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| 24 | 24 | | and loss; and |
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| 25 | 25 | | (3) resources available to students, including school |
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| 26 | 26 | | support resources, mental health crisis support, and individual and |
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| 27 | 27 | | group therapy. |
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| 28 | 28 | | SECTION 2. Section 28.019, Education Code, as added by this |
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| 29 | 29 | | Act, applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. |
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| 30 | 30 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 31 | 31 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 32 | 32 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 33 | 33 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 34 | 34 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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