SRC-MWN S.B. 430 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 430 77R4680 BDH-DBy: Shapiro Education 2/23/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, the Texas School Safety Center exists as a grant funded organization within the Criminal Justice Division of the Office of the Governor where it collects and analyzes information and provides training related to school violence prevention. As proposed, S.B. 430 establishes the Texas School Safety Center as a permanent entity. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 37, Education Code, by adding Subchapter G, as follows: SUBCHAPTER G. TEXAS SCHOOL SAFETY CENTER Sec. 37.201. DEFINITIONS. Defines "center." Sec. 37.202. PURPOSE. Sets forth the purpose of the center. Sec. 37.203. BOARD. Provides that the center is governed by a board of directors. Sets forth the composition and terms of the board. Authorizes the board to form committees as necessary. Sec. 37.204. OFFICERS; MEETINGS; COMPENSATION. Requires the board to annually elect from among its members a chairperson and a vice chairperson. Requires the board to meet at least four times each year. Provides that a member of the board may not receive compensation but is entitled to reimbursement of travel expenses. Sec. 37.205. SAFETY TRAINING PROGRAMS. Requires the center to conduct for school districts a safety training program that includes certain criteria. Sec. 37.206. SCHOOL SAFETY SUMMIT. Requires the center to conduct a statewide school safety summit that emphasizes mobilization of schools, families, and communities to reduce school violence and promote school safety. Sec. 37.207. MODEL SAFETY AND SECURITY AUDIT PROCEDURE. Requires the center to develop a model safety and security audit procedure for use by school districts that includes certain guidelines. Sec. 37.208. ON-SITE ASSISTANCE. Requires the center, on request of a school district, to provide on-site technical assistance to the district for school safety and security audits, and school safety and security information and presentations. Sec. 37.209. CENTER WEBSITE. Requires the center to develop and maintain an interactive Internet website that includes certain information. Sec. 37.210. ESSAY CONTEST. Requires the center to sponsor a student essay contest entitled "Charting the Course for School Safety." Sec. 37.211. RECOGNITION OF SCHOOLS. Requires the center to provide for the public recognition of schools that implement effective school safety measures and violence prevention. Sec. 37.212. INTERAGENCY COOPERATION. Requires the center to promote cooperation between state agencies, institutions of higher education, and any local juvenile delinquency prevention councils to address discipline and safety issues in the state. Sec. 37.213. SERVICES FOR AT-RISK-YOUTH. Requires the center to develop model agreements to be used between school districts and other local entities, including health agencies, mental health agencies, social service agencies, and courts. Requires the agreements to address the provision of services to at-risk-youth, including cooperation between entities that provide the services and cost sharing by the entities. Sec. 37.214. AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT CERTAIN FUNDS. Authorizes the center to solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from public and private entities to use for the purposes of this subchapter. Sec. 37.215. BUDGET. Requires the board to annually approve a budget for the center. Requires the board to biannually prepare a budget request for the center for submission to the legislature. Sec. 37.216. ANNUAL REPORT. Requires the board, not later than September 1 of each year, to provide a report to the governor, the legislature, the State Board of Education, and the Texas Education Agency (agency). Requires the annual report to include any findings made by the center regarding school safety and the center's functions, budget information, and strategic planning initiatives of the center. SECTION 2. Requires the governor to make initial appointments as required by Section 37.203, Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than October 1, 2001. Sets forth terms for initial board members. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2001.