80R1456 SLO-D

By: Raymond H.B. No. 166

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 2008-2009 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, 2008, 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 190,000, 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, 2009.

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, 2007.