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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the provision of private security services at a public |
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primary or secondary school; requiring an occupational license. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 37.081(a), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) The board of trustees of any school district may: |
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(1) employ or contract with security personnel; |
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(2) enter into a memorandum of understanding with a |
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local law enforcement agency or a county or municipality that is the |
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employing political subdivision of commissioned peace officers for |
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the provision of school resource officers; |
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(3) for the purposes of providing security personnel, |
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contract with a security services contractor licensed under Chapter |
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1702, Occupations Code, for the provision of a school security |
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officer licensed under Subchapter I-1, Chapter 1702, Occupations |
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Code [commissioned security officer, as defined by Section |
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1702.002, Occupations Code, who has completed the Level II or III |
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training course required by the Department of Public Safety]; and |
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(4) commission peace officers to carry out this |
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subchapter. |
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SECTION 2. Section 37.0814(d), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(d) The board of trustees of a school district that claims a |
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good cause exception under Subsection (c) must develop an |
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alternative standard with which the district is able to comply, |
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which may include providing a person to act as a security officer |
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who is: |
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(1) a school security officer licensed under |
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Subchapter I-1, Chapter 1702, Occupations Code; |
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(2) a school marshal; or |
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(3) [(2)] a school district employee [or a person with |
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whom the district contracts] who: |
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(A) has completed school safety training |
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provided by a qualified handgun instructor certified in school |
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safety under Section 411.1901, Government Code; and |
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(B) carries a handgun on school premises in |
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accordance with written regulations or written authorization of the |
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district under Section 46.03(a)(1)(A), Penal Code. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 96, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 96.42 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 96.42. CERTAIN REQUIRED TRAINING PROVIDED BY ADVANCED |
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LAW ENFORCEMENT RAPID RESPONSE TRAINING CENTER. The Advanced Law |
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Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center at Texas State |
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University--San Marcos shall permit a person who applies for a |
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school security officer license under Section 1702.213, |
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Occupations Code, to enroll in the Solo Officer Rapid Deployment |
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and the Level I training courses offered by the center, or in a |
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substantially similar course offered by the center, in the same |
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manner as the center permits a peace officer to enroll in the |
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course. |
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SECTION 4. Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter I-1 to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER I-1. SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICER |
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Sec. 1702.211. SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICER LICENSE REQUIRED. |
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An individual may not act as a school security officer unless the |
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individual holds a school security officer license. |
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Sec. 1702.212. SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICER. An individual acts |
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as a school security officer if the individual is employed by or |
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contracted through a company licensed under this chapter to provide |
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services described by Section 1702.202 or 1702.222 on the premises |
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of a public primary or secondary school. |
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Sec. 1702.213. APPLICATION; LICENSE QUALIFICATIONS. (a) |
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An applicant for a school security officer license must submit a |
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written application on a form prescribed by the commission. |
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(b) An applicant for a school security officer license must |
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provide proof that the applicant: |
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(1) has been issued a security officer commission or a |
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personal protection officer license; |
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(2) is employed at the time of application by a |
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security services contractor licensed by the department; and |
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(3) has completed: |
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(A) the training course described by Section |
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96.42, Education Code; |
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(B) the training required for a school district |
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peace officer or a school resource officer under Section 1701.263; |
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and |
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(C) the training described by Section 1702.214. |
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Sec. 1702.214. SCHOOL SECURITY OFFICER TRAINING. The |
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commission shall establish the minimum curriculum requirements for |
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a school-based security response course and establish minimum |
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qualifications for instructors to provide the training. |
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Sec. 1702.215. CONTINUING EDUCATION; RENEWAL. The |
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commission shall establish minimum continuing education |
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requirements for a school security officer license. The |
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requirements must include the training content and frequency |
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required for a school district peace officer or school resource |
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officer under Section 37.0812(a), Education Code. |
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Sec. 1702.216. ENROLLMENT IN TRAINING COURSE REQUIRED. The |
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provider of a training course required for the issuance or renewal |
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of a school security officer license shall permit a person to enroll |
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in the course if the person has applied for the issuance or renewal |
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of the license. |
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SECTION 5. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this |
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section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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(b) Section 1702.211, Occupations Code, as added by this |
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Act, takes effect September 1, 2026. |