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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring public schools to provide instruction and |
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materials and adopt policies relating to the prevention of child |
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abuse, family violence, and dating violence. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Christine Blubaugh |
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Act. |
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SECTION 2. Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (u), (u-1), (u-2), and (u-3) to read as follows: |
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(u) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules requiring |
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students to receive instruction on the prevention of child abuse, |
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family violence, and dating violence at least once in middle or |
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junior high school and at least once in high school. The |
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instruction must include information on: |
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(1) the dating violence policy adopted by the |
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student's school district under Section 37.0831; |
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(2) the prevalence of dating violence and the |
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recognition of abuse warning signs; |
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(3) the procedures for reporting violence or abuse; |
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and |
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(4) educational materials or resources available to |
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students under Section 37.0831(c). |
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(u-1) Before each school year, a school district shall |
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provide written notice as described by Subsection (u-2) to a parent |
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of each student enrolled in the district who will receive: |
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(1) the instruction required by Subsection (u); or |
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(2) any other instruction required by state law |
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relating to the prevention of child abuse, family violence, and |
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dating violence. |
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(u-2) The written notice required by Subsection (u-1) must |
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include: |
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(1) a statement that the district will provide |
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instruction to the parent's student relating to the prevention of |
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child abuse, family violence, and dating violence; |
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(2) a description of: |
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(A) the curriculum materials that will be used in |
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providing instruction to the parent's student relating to the |
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prevention of child abuse, family violence, and dating violence; |
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and |
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(B) the educational materials and resources |
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described by Section 37.0831(c); and |
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(3) a statement of the parent's right to: |
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(A) review the materials and resources described |
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by Subdivision (2); and |
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(B) remove the student from instruction relating |
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to the prevention of child abuse, family violence, and dating |
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violence without subjecting the student to any disciplinary action, |
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academic penalty, or other sanction imposed by the district or the |
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student's school. |
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(u-3) If a school district does not comply with the |
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requirements of Subsections (u-1) and (u-2), a parent of a student |
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enrolled in the district may file a complaint in accordance with the |
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district's grievance procedure adopted as required by Section |
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26.011. |
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SECTION 3. The heading to Section 37.0831, Education Code, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 37.0831. DATING VIOLENCE POLICIES; EDUCATIONAL |
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MATERIALS AND RESOURCES. |
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SECTION 4. Section 37.0831, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b) A dating violence policy must: |
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(1) include: |
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(A) a definition of dating violence that includes |
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the intentional use of physical, sexual, verbal, or emotional abuse |
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by a person to harm, threaten, intimidate, or control another |
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person in a dating relationship, as defined by Section 71.0021, |
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Family Code; |
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(B) a clear statement that dating violence is not |
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tolerated at school; |
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(C) reporting procedures and guidelines for |
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students who are victims of dating violence; and |
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(D) information regarding the instruction on the |
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prevention of dating violence required under Section 28.002(u); and |
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(2) address safety planning, enforcement of |
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protective orders, school-based alternatives to protective orders, |
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training for teachers and administrators at each district campus |
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that instructs students in grade six or higher, counseling for |
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affected students, and awareness education for students and |
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parents. |
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(c) To the extent possible, a school district shall make |
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available to students: |
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(1) age-appropriate educational materials that |
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include information on the dangers of dating violence; and |
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(2) resources to students seeking help. |
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SECTION 5. This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the |
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legislative session. |
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* * * * * |