By Alonzo                                             H.B. No. 1687
       74R5741 DD-F
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the notification of school personnel of the arrest or
    1-3  detention of a student.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Article 15.27(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, is
    1-6  amended to read as follows:
    1-7        (a)  A law enforcement agency that arrests or takes into
    1-8  custody as provided by Chapter 52, Family Code, an individual who
    1-9  the agency knows or believes is enrolled as a student in a public
   1-10  primary or secondary school, for an offense listed in Subsection
   1-11  (h) of this article, shall orally notify the superintendent or a
   1-12  person designated by the superintendent in the school district in
   1-13  which the student is enrolled or believed to be enrolled of that
   1-14  arrest or detention within 24 hours after the arrest or detention,
   1-15  or on the next school day.  The superintendent shall promptly
   1-16  notify all instructional and support personnel who have regular
   1-17  contact with the student.   Within seven days after the date the
   1-18  oral notice is given, the law enforcement agency shall mail written
   1-19  notification, marked "PERSONAL and CONFIDENTIAL" on the mailing
   1-20  envelope, to the superintendent or the person designated by the
   1-21  superintendent.  The written notification must have the following
   1-22  printed on its face in large, bold letters:  "WARNING:  The
   1-23  information contained in this notice is intended only to inform
   1-24  appropriate school personnel of an arrest or detention of a student
    2-1  believed to be enrolled in this school.  An arrest or detention
    2-2  should not be construed as proof that the student is guilty.  Guilt
    2-3  is determined in a court of law.  THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS
    2-4  NOTICE IS CONFIDENTIAL!"
    2-5        SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies
    2-6  beginning with the 1995-1996 school year.
    2-7        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-8  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-9  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-10  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-11  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   2-12  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   2-13  passage, and it is so enacted.