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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a parenting and paternity awareness program used in the |
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health curriculum for public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (p) and adding Subsections (p-1), (p-2), and |
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(p-3) to read as follows: |
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(p) The State Board of Education, in conjunction with the |
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office of the attorney general, shall develop a parenting and |
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paternity awareness program that a school district shall use in the |
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district's middle, junior high, and high school health |
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curriculum. The program must: |
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(1) address parenting skills and responsibilities, |
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including child support and other legal rights and responsibilities |
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that come with parenthood; |
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(2) address relationship skills, including money |
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management, communication skills, and marriage preparation; and |
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(3) in district middle, junior high, or high schools |
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that do not have a family violence prevention program, address |
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skills relating to the prevention of family violence. |
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(p-1) A school district shall provide high school health |
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credit to a student enrolled in a middle or junior high school who |
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successfully completes a course that includes the program developed |
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under Subsection (p). |
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(p-2) A school district may develop or adopt research-based |
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local programs and curriculum materials for use in conjunction with |
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the program developed under Subsection (p). Local programs and |
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curriculum materials may provide instruction in: |
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(1) child development; |
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(2) parenting skills, including child abuse and |
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neglect prevention; and |
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(3) assertiveness skills to prevent teenage |
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pregnancy, abusive relationships, and family violence. |
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(p-3) The agency may evaluate local programs and curriculum |
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materials developed under Subsection (p-2) and distribute to other |
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school districts information regarding those programs and |
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materials. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010 |
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school year. |
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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, 2009. |