BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 121
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Section 11.252 (District-Level Planning and Decision-Making), Education Code, requires each school district to have a district improvement plan. The purpose of the district improvement plan is to guide district and campus staff in the improvement of student performance in order to attain certain state standards. Currently, the district improvement plan does not address dating violence, despite several alarming statistics suggesting that dating and relationship violence is a significant problem in Texas schools.
H.B. 121 requires each school district to adopt and implement a dating violence policy to be included in its district improvement plan. The bill also provides for the specifics of the policy and requires the policy to include certain content. The bill also establishes a domestic violence prevention pilot project.
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 Subchapter C, Chapter 37, Education Code, by adding Section 37.0831, as follows:
Sec. 37.0831. DATING VIOLENCE POLICIES. (a) Requires each school district to adopt and implement a dating violence policy to be included in the district improvement plan under Section 11.252.
(b) Sets forth the requirements of a dating violence policy.
SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, by adding Section 38.0041, as follows:
Sec. 38.0041. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION PILOT PROJECT. (a) Requires the commissioner of education (commissioner) to establish a pilot project under which the Texas Education Agency (TEA) provides an age-appropriate curriculum concerning domestic violence issues for students in grades 9 and 10 in school districts selected by the commissioner in certain counties.
(b) Prohibits the commissioner from implementing the pilot project in the Garland Independent School District, notwithstanding Subsection (a).
(c) Requires the curriculum adopted by TEA to foster an environment of safety, support, and respect for families affected by domestic violence through prevention and education. Set forth specific areas the curriculum is required to address.
(d) Authorizes TEA to administer the pilot project in cooperation with a nonprofit organization that supports families affected by domestic violence.
(e) Provides that the project is funded by appropriations, gifts, grants, and donations made for that purpose. Requires TEA to solicit gifts and grants from public or private sources and to seek federal funding for the use and benefit of the project.
(f) Requires TEA to report to the legislature describing TEA activities under the project, the project’s effect on education about domestic violence issues, and the recommendations arising from the project. Requires TEA to submit an interim report under this subsection not later than January 1, 2011, and a final report not later than January 1, 2013.
(g) Provides that this section expires January 1, 2013.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.