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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to public school policies and curriculum designed to |
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prevent dating and domestic violence. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 37, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 37.0831 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 37.0831. DATING VIOLENCE POLICIES. (a) Each school |
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district shall adopt and implement a dating violence policy to be |
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included in the district improvement plan under Section 11.252. |
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(b) A dating violence policy must: |
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(1) include a definition of dating violence that |
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includes the intentional use of physical, sexual, verbal, or |
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emotional abuse by a person to harm, threaten, intimidate, or |
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control another person in a dating relationship, as defined by |
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Section 71.0021, Family Code; and |
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(2) address safety planning, enforcement of |
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protective orders, school-based alternatives to protective orders, |
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training for teachers and administrators, counseling for affected |
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students, and awareness education for students and parents. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 38.0041 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 38.0041. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION PILOT PROJECT. |
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(a) The commissioner shall establish a pilot project under which |
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the agency provides an age-appropriate curriculum concerning |
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issues of domestic violence for students in grades 9 and 10 in |
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school districts selected by the commissioner from the following |
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counties: |
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(1) Bexar County; |
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(2) Dallas County; and |
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(3) Harris County. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the commissioner may |
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not implement the pilot project in the Garland Independent School |
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District. |
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(c) The curriculum adopted by the agency must be designed to |
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foster an environment of safety, support, and respect for families |
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affected by domestic violence through prevention and education. |
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The curriculum must: |
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(1) ensure that students understand the issues of |
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domestic violence, family violence, and violence associated with |
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teen dating; |
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(2) teach students nonviolent choices; and |
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(3) teach students how to develop healthy |
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relationships. |
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(d) The agency may administer the pilot project in |
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cooperation with a nonprofit organization that exists to support |
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families affected by domestic violence. |
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(e) The project is funded by appropriations if made, and by |
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gifts, grants, and donations made for that purpose. The agency |
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shall solicit gifts and grants from any public or private source and |
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seek federal funding for the use and benefit of the project. |
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(f) The agency shall report to the legislature describing |
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the agency's activities under the pilot project, the effect of the |
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project on education about domestic violence issues, and the |
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recommendations arising from the project. The agency shall submit |
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an interim report under this subsection not later than January 1, |
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2011, and a final report not later than January 1, 2013. |
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(g) This section expires January 1, 2013. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |