The bill would require the commissioner of education to review and amend rules necessary to ensure that district and open-enrollment charter facilities standards continue to provide a secure and safe environment.
Regional education service centers (ESC) would serve as resources for school districts and open-enrollment charters for safety and security and provide assistance to school safety review teams. ESCs, directly or in collaboration with the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) and local law enforcement agencies, would assist schools with certain safety plans and requirements.
The bill would require the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to provide an allotment to each school that equals the amount spent by employees on travel and training for certain mental health training from funds appropriated for the purpose. The bill allows for a phase in of this requirement, and the commissioner would be required to adopt rules for implementation.
The bill would require school district boards to determine the appropriate number of armed security officers for each campus; ensuring at least one armed security officer at each school campus, with certain exceptions.
TEA would establish an office of school safety and security within the agency to coordinate the agency's monitoring of school district safety and security requirements, including multihazard emergency operations plans (EOPs) and safety and security audits (SSAs). The office would establish regional school safety review teams. The agency, in coordination with the TxSSC and relevant local law enforcement, would provide technical assistance to support the implementation and operation of safety and security requirements. As part of the technical assistance, the agency would be required to conduct certain vulnerability assessments and onsite general intruder detection audits.
TEA would require a school district to submit information necessary for the agency to monitor the implementation and operation of school district safety and security requirements. TEA would review school district records as necessary to ensure compliance, and ensure collected information is kept confidential.
Any proceeds from bonds would be used by certain school districts to come into compliance with safety standards before other bond proceeds could be spent.
TEA, or if designated by TEA, the TxSSC, would establish and publish a directory of approved vendors of school safety technology and equipment.
The bill would require that, at least once every five years, TxSSC would review the facilities standards for instructional facilities and make recommendations to the commissioner regarding any changes necessary to ensure that the standards reflect best practices for student safety. The commissioner would coordinate with municipalities and counties to align building code requirements with safety and security requirements.
TxSSC, in collaboration with the Department of Public Safety (DPS), would be required to provide resources to assist schools with safe firearm storage. Districts would also be required to provide DPS and other responders with an accurate map of district campuses and school buildings and an opportunity to conduct a walk-through.
The bill would require twice annual meetings of school officials and law enforcement in certain counties coordinated by the sheriff. The sheriffs would be required to submit related reports to the TxSSC, and TxSSC would maintain the reports and make them publicly available on its website.
The bill would amend the School Safety Allotment under the Foundation School Program (FSP). Under the provisions on the bill, a school district would be entitled to $15,000 per campus and $10 per student in average daily attendance plus $1 per student in average daily attendance for every $50 basic allotment increase.