85R7022 GCB-D

By: Villalba H.B. No. 1313

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of school marshal grant programs by the criminal justice division of the governor's office and the adoption of a school marshals promotion program.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 37.0811, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (i) to read as follows:

(i) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may request a grant under:

(1) the school marshal support grant program established under Section 772.0064, Government Code; and

(2) the school marshal notice grant program established under Section 772.0065, Government Code.

SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 772, Government Code, is amended by adding Sections 772.0064 and 772.0065 to read as follows:

Sec. 772.0064. SCHOOL MARSHAL SUPPORT GRANT PROGRAM. (a) From funds appropriated to the governor for that purpose, the criminal justice division established under Section 772.006 shall establish a grant program under which grants are awarded to a school district or open-enrollment charter school to support the appointment of a school marshal by the district or school.

(b) Grant money awarded under this section may be used by the school district or open-enrollment charter school to pay the costs of providing an appointed school marshal with:

(1) training;

(2) a handgun to be carried by the school marshal in compliance with Section 37.0811, Education Code, and the written regulations adopted by a school under that section; and

(3) the appropriate ammunition for use by the school marshal in compliance with Section 37.0811, Education Code, and the written regulations adopted by a school under that section.

(c) The criminal justice division shall award grants to school districts and open-enrollment charter schools under this section until the funds appropriated for the grant program are expended.

Sec. 772.0065. SCHOOL MARSHAL NOTICE GRANT PROGRAM. (a) From funds appropriated to the governor for that purpose, the criminal justice division established under Section 772.006 shall establish a grant program under which grants are awarded to enable a school district or open-enrollment charter school that has appointed a school marshal to provide notice about the school marshal.

(b) Grant money awarded under this section may be used by the school district or open-enrollment charter school to pay the costs of posting signage or otherwise providing notice in multiple places on a campus at which a school marshal is an employee to provide notice that an employee of the campus is a school marshal authorized to carry or possess a handgun on the campus.

(c) The criminal justice division shall award grants to school districts and open-enrollment charter schools under this section until the funds appropriated for the grant program are expended.

SECTION 3. Subchapter F, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 1701.2601 to read as follows:

Sec. 1701.2601. SCHOOL MARSHALS PROMOTION PROGRAM. From funds appropriated for the purpose, the commission shall develop and implement a program to:

(1) notify school districts and open-enrollment charter schools about the authority to appoint school marshals under Section 37.0811, Education Code;

(2) provide education about:

(A) the benefits of school marshals; and

(B) the school marshal support grant program under Section 772.0064, Government Code, and the school marshal notice grant program under Section 772.0065, Government Code; and

(3) encourage schools to appoint school marshals.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.