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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the permissible use of the school safety allotment |
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under the Foundation School Program for certain mental health |
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services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 48.115(b), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) Funds allocated under this section must be used to |
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improve school safety and security, including costs associated |
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with: |
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(1) securing school facilities, including: |
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(A) improvements to school infrastructure; |
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(B) the use or installation of physical barriers; |
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and |
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(C) the purchase and maintenance of: |
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(i) security cameras or other security |
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equipment; and |
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(ii) technology, including communications |
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systems or devices, that facilitates communication and information |
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sharing between students, school personnel, and first responders in |
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an emergency; |
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(2) mental health services, including: |
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(A) programs relating to suicide prevention, |
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intervention, and postvention; |
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(B) telehealth and other related programs that |
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allow students and families to access mental health services from |
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licensed professionals; |
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(C) prevention and treatment programs relating |
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to addressing adverse childhood experiences; |
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(D) evidence-based, effective prevention |
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practices for the prevention, identification, and management of |
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emergencies and threats, including: |
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(i) providing licensed counselors, social |
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workers, and individuals trained in restorative discipline and |
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restorative justice practices; |
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(ii) providing other mental health |
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personnel and support; |
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(iii) providing behavioral health |
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services; |
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(iv) establishing threat reporting |
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systems; and |
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(v) developing and implementing programs |
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focused on restorative justice practices, culturally relevant |
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instruction, and mental health support; |
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(3) providing security for the district, including: |
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(A) employing school district peace officers, |
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private security officers, and school marshals; and |
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(B) collaborating with local law enforcement |
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agencies, such as entering into a memorandum of understanding for |
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the assignment of school resource officers to schools in the |
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district; and |
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(4) [(3)] school safety and security training and |
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planning, including[: |
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[(A)] active shooter and emergency response |
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training[; |
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[(B) prevention and treatment programs relating |
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to addressing adverse childhood experiences; and |
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[(C) the prevention, identification, and |
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management of emergencies and threats, using evidence-based, |
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effective prevention practices and including: |
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[(i) providing licensed counselors, social |
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workers, and individuals trained in restorative discipline and |
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restorative justice practices; |
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[(ii) providing mental health personnel and |
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support; |
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[(iii) providing behavioral health |
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services; |
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[(iv) establishing threat reporting |
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systems; and |
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[(v) developing and implementing programs |
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focused on restorative justice practices, culturally relevant |
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instruction, and providing mental health support; and |
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[(4) providing programs related to suicide |
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prevention, intervention, and postvention]. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |