78R3116 SLO-D

By:  Raymond                                                      H.B. No. 998



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a pilot program establishing a safe schools unit in the 
Department of Public Safety.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 411, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 411.0203 to read as follows:
	Sec. 411.0203.  SAFE SCHOOLS UNIT.  (a)  The commission shall 
establish a safe schools unit pilot program in the department for 
the 2004-2005 school year to provide school districts in counties 
that participate in the program with information and other 
assistance concerning the issues of juvenile delinquency, juvenile 
substance abuse, and other law enforcement issues that affect 
school districts.
	(b)  Not later than February 1, 2004, the director shall 
select five counties to participate in the pilot program.  The 
director may select only a county that has a population of less than 
500,000.  At least one of the counties the director selects must 
have a population of more than 150,000, be located along the 
southern portion of the border between this state and Mexico, and 
contain a municipality with a population of more than 175,000.  Each 
school district in a participating county shall participate in the 
pilot program.
	(c)  The director shall administer the pilot program and 
adopt rules to implement and administer the program.  In adopting 
rules, the director shall ensure that the pilot program addresses 
law enforcement issues that affect school districts, including the 
prevention of and intervention in juvenile delinquency and 
substance abuse.
	(d)  This section expires August 31, 2005.                              
	SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date 
of this Act, the public safety director shall adopt rules as 
necessary to implement Section 411.0203, Government Code, as added 
by this Act.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.