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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to school districts and open-enrollment charter schools |
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providing silent panic alert technology in classrooms. |
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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 Alyssa's Law. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 37, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 37.117 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 37.117. SILENT PANIC ALERT TECHNOLOGY. (a) Each |
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school district and open-enrollment charter school shall provide |
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each classroom in the district or school with silent panic alert |
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technology that allows for immediate contact with district or |
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school emergency services and emergency services agencies, law |
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enforcement agencies, health departments, and fire departments. |
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(b) Silent panic alert technology provided by a school |
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district or open-enrollment charter school under this section does |
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not satisfy the requirement under Section 37.108(a)(2) for the |
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district or school to ensure employees have classroom access to a |
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telephone or another electronic communication device. |
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(c) To comply with this section, a school district or |
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open-enrollment charter school may: |
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(1) use funds provided to the district or school |
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through the school safety allotment under Section 48.115 or other |
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available funds; and |
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(2) use the district's or school's customary |
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procurement process. |
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SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 4. 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 September 1, 2023. |