AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Current law requires school districts in Texas to adopt a dating violence policy that includes awareness education for students and parents.

 

With the help of local family violence shelters and resource programs, some school districts have made great progress in implementing a dating violence policy, but that has not been the case for all districts.

School health advisory committees (SHAC) are collections of parents and other local community members.  Current law provides that SHACs advise school districts on school health curricula.  Dating abuse information represents an excellent and logical part of health classes.

 

S.B. 736 amends current law relating to membership of local school health advisory councils.

 

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 Sections 28.004(d), Education Code, as follows:

 

(d)  Authorizes the board of trustees of a school district (board) to appoint one or more persons from each of certain groups to the local school health advisory council, including local domestic violence programs.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2011.