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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring school districts to adopt procedures to |
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ensure parents are informed regarding a student's mental, |
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emotional, or physical health or well-being. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 26, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subsection 26.0083 to read as follows |
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Sec. 26.0083. DISTRICT POLICY REGARDING NOTICE TO PARENTS. |
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(a) Each school district shall adopt procedures for notifying a |
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student's parent if there is a change in the student's services or |
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monitoring related to the student's mental, emotional, or physical |
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health or well-being and the school's ability to provide a safe and |
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supportive learning environment for the student. The procedures |
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must reinforce the fundamental right of parents to make decisions |
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regarding the upbringing and control of their children by requiring |
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school district personnel to encourage a student to discuss issues |
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relating to his or her well-being with his or her parent or to |
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facilitate discussion of the issue with the parent. The procedures |
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may not prohibit parents from accessing any of their student's |
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education and health records created, maintained, or used by the |
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school district. |
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(b) Except to the extent consistent with Section 38.004, a |
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school district may not adopt procedures that prohibit school |
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district personnel from notifying a parent about a student's |
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mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being, or a change in |
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related services or monitoring, or that encourage or have the |
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effect of encouraging a student to withhold from a parent such |
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information. |
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(c) Except to the extent consistent with Section 38.004 and |
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the school district's policy, School district personnel may not |
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discourage or prohibit parental notification of and involvement in |
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critical decisions affecting a student's mental, emotional, or |
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physical health or well-being. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |