79R4986 BDH-F


By:  Dukes                                                        H.B. No. 1166



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to public school policies designed to prevent dating 
violence.     
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 37, Education Code, is 
amended by adding Section 37.0831 to read as follows:
	Sec. 37.0831.  DATING VIOLENCE POLICIES.  (a)  Each school 
district shall adopt and implement a dating violence policy to be 
included in the district improvement plan under Section 11.252.
	(b)  A dating violence policy must:                                     
		(1)  include a definition of dating violence that 
includes the intentional use of physical, sexual, verbal, or 
emotional abuse by a person to harm, threaten, intimidate, or 
control another person in a continuing relationship of a romantic 
or intimate nature; and
		(2)  address safety planning, enforcement of 
protective orders, school-based alternatives to protective orders, 
training for teachers and administrators, counseling for affected 
students, and awareness education for students and parents.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.