By Naishtat H.B. No. 3430 75R9300 T A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to guidelines for peer mediation programs in public 1-3 schools. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 33, Education Code, is amended by adding 1-6 Subchapter E to read as follows: 1-7 SUBCHAPTER E. PEER MEDIATION PROGRAMS 1-8 Sec. 33.101. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "peer 1-9 mediation program" means a program under which disputes between 1-10 students are resolved through mediation conducted by other 1-11 students. 1-12 Sec. 33.102. PEER MEDIATION PROGRAM ENCOURAGED. Each school 1-13 district is encouraged to establish a peer mediation program. 1-14 Sec. 33.103. OPTIONAL GUIDELINES FOR PEER MEDIATION 1-15 PROGRAMS. (a) If a school district chooses to implement a peer 1-16 mediation program, factors the school district may wish to consider 1-17 include: 1-18 (1) obtaining the approval of the board of trustees; 1-19 (2) at each school at which the program will be 1-20 implemented, obtaining the commitment of administrators and 1-21 teachers to participate in the program; 1-22 (3) setting campus goals for the program; 1-23 (4) gathering baseline data for evaluation; and 1-24 (5) providing information about the program to parents 2-1 and the community. 2-2 (b) Training for school staff should be sufficient to enable 2-3 them to administer a peer mediation program. 2-4 (c) Peer mediation trainers should: 2-5 (1) have experience in implementing and running peer 2-6 mediation programs; 2-7 (2) provide both empirical and anecdotal evaluation of 2-8 the effectiveness of peer mediation programs; 2-9 (3) provide ongoing assistance and support in 2-10 maintaining peer mediation programs; and 2-11 (4) provide training that is appropriate for the age 2-12 of the student trained. 2-13 (d) Training for prospective peer mediators should: 2-14 (1) be based on research and be appropriate for the 2-15 age of the student being trained; and 2-16 (2) include: 2-17 (A) extensive mediation skills development; 2-18 (B) training on the dynamics of conflict and the 2-19 ways in which different persons respond to conflict; 2-20 (C) guidelines on acceptable limits of behavior 2-21 for a student mediator; 2-22 (D) training on listening, communication, and 2-23 interpersonal skills; 2-24 (E) training on personal safety issues; and 2-25 (F) training on mediation ethics. 2-26 SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 1997-1998 2-27 school year. 3-1 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 3-2 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-3 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-4 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-5 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 3-6 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 3-7 passage, and it is so enacted.