85R3686 GCB-F

By: Bettencourt S.B. No. 7

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to improper relationships between educators and students; creating a criminal offense and expanding the applicability of an existing offense.

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

SECTION 1. Section 21.12(a), Penal Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) An employee of a public or private primary or secondary school commits an offense if the employee:

(1) engages in sexual contact, sexual intercourse, or deviate sexual intercourse with a person who is enrolled in a public or private primary or secondary school at which the employee works;

(2) holds a position described by Section 21.003(a) or (b), Education Code, regardless of whether the employee holds the appropriate certificate, permit, license, or credential for the position, [a certificate or permit issued as provided by Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, or is a person who is required to be licensed by a state agency as provided by Section 21.003(b), Education Code,] and engages in sexual contact, sexual intercourse, or deviate sexual intercourse with a person the employee knows is:

(A) enrolled in a public or private primary or secondary school, other than a school described by Subdivision (1) [in the same school district as the school at which the employee works]; or

(B) a student participant in an educational activity that is sponsored by a school district or a public or private primary or secondary school, if[:

[(i)] students enrolled in a public or private primary or secondary school are the primary participants in the activity; [and

[(ii) the employee provides education services to those participants;] or

(3) engages in conduct described by Section 33.021, with a person described by Subdivision (1), or a person the employee knows is a person described by Subdivision (2)(A) or (B), regardless of the age of that person.

SECTION 2. Article 42.018(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows:

(a) This article applies only:

(1) to conviction or deferred adjudication granted on the basis of[:

[(A)] an offense under Title 5, Penal Code,[; or

[(B) an offense on conviction of which a defendant is required to register as a sex offender under Chapter 62; and

[(2)] if the victim of the offense is under 18 years of age; or

(2) to an offense on conviction of which a defendant is required to register as a sex offender under Chapter 62.

SECTION 3. Section 21.006, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsections (b), (b-1), and (c) and adding Subsections (b-2) and (i) to read as follows:

(b) In addition to the reporting requirement under Section 261.101, Family Code, the superintendent or director of a school district, open-enrollment charter school, regional education service center, or shared services arrangement shall notify the State Board for Educator Certification if:

(1) an educator employed by or seeking employment by the district, school, service center, or shared services arrangement has a criminal record and the district, school, service center, or shared services arrangement obtained information about the educator's criminal record by a means other than the criminal history clearinghouse established under Section 411.0845, Government Code;

(2) an educator's employment at the district, school, service center, or shared services arrangement was terminated and there is [based on] evidence that the educator:

(A) abused or otherwise committed an unlawful act with a student or minor;

(A-1) was involved in a romantic relationship with or solicited or engaged in sexual contact with a student or minor;

(B) possessed, transferred, sold, or distributed a controlled substance, as defined by Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, or by 21 U.S.C. Section 801 et seq.;

(C) illegally transferred, appropriated, or expended funds or other property of the district, school, service center, or shared services arrangement;

(D) attempted by fraudulent or unauthorized means to obtain or alter a professional certificate or license for the purpose of promotion or additional compensation; or

(E) committed a criminal offense or any part of a criminal offense on school property or at a school-sponsored event;

(3) the educator resigned and there is evidence that the educator engaged in misconduct described by Subdivision (2); or

(4) the educator engaged in conduct that violated the assessment instrument security procedures established under Section 39.0301.

(b-1) A superintendent or director of a school district or open-enrollment charter school shall complete an investigation of an educator that involves [is based on] evidence that the educator may have engaged in misconduct described by Subsection (b)(2)(A) or (A-1), despite the educator's resignation from district or school employment before completion of the investigation.

(b-2) The principal of a school district or open-enrollment charter school campus must notify the superintendent or director of the district or school not later than the seventh day after the date the principal knew or should have known about an educator's criminal record under Subsection (b)(1) or a termination of employment or resignation following an alleged incident of misconduct described by Subsection (b).

(c) The superintendent or director must notify the State Board for Educator Certification by filing a report with the board not later than the seventh day after the date the superintendent or director knew or should have known about an educator's [employee's] criminal record under Subsection (b)(1) or a termination of employment or resignation following an alleged incident of misconduct described by Subsection (b). The report must be:

(1) in writing; and

(2) in a form prescribed by the board.

(i) A superintendent or director required to file a report under Subsection (c) commits an offense if the superintendent or director knowingly fails to file the report by the date required by that subsection. A principal required to notify a superintendent or director about an educator's criminal record or alleged incident of misconduct under Subsection (b-2) commits an offense if the principal knowingly fails to provide the notice by the date required by that subsection. An offense under this subsection is a Class A misdemeanor, except that the offense is a state jail felony if it is shown on the trial of the offense that the superintendent, director, or principal intended to conceal an educator's criminal record or alleged incident of misconduct.

SECTION 4. Sections 21.054(d) and (e), Education Code, are amended to read as follows:

(d) Continuing education requirements for a classroom teacher must provide that not more than 25 percent of the training required every five years include instruction regarding:

(1) collecting and analyzing information that will improve effectiveness in the classroom;

(2) recognizing early warning indicators that a student may be at risk of dropping out of school;

(3) integrating technology into classroom instruction; [and]

(4) educating diverse student populations, including:

(A) students with disabilities, including mental health disorders;

(B) students who are educationally disadvantaged;

(C) students of limited English proficiency; and

(D) students at risk of dropping out of school; and

(5) understanding appropriate relationships, boundaries, and communications between educators and students.

(e) Continuing education requirements for a principal must provide that not more than 25 percent of the training required every five years include instruction regarding:

(1) effective and efficient management, including:

(A) collecting and analyzing information;

(B) making decisions and managing time; and

(C) supervising student discipline and managing behavior;

(2) recognizing early warning indicators that a student may be at risk of dropping out of school;

(3) integrating technology into campus curriculum and instruction; [and]

(4) educating diverse student populations, including:

(A) students with disabilities, including mental health disorders;

(B) students who are educationally disadvantaged;

(C) students of limited English proficiency; and

(D) students at risk of dropping out of school; and

(5) preventing, recognizing, and reporting any sexual conduct between an educator and student that is prohibited under Section 21.12, Penal Code, or for which reporting is required under Section 21.006 of this code.

SECTION 5. Section 21.058(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The procedures described by Subsections (b) and (c) apply only to a person who is:

(1) registered as a sex offender under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure; or

(2) convicted [to conviction] of a felony offense under Title 5, Penal Code, committed against a [or an offense on conviction of which a defendant is required to register as a sex offender under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure; and

[(2) if the] victim younger than [of the offense is under] 18 years of age.

SECTION 6. Subchapter B, Chapter 21, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 21.0581 to read as follows:

Sec. 21.0581. REVOCATION FOR ASSISTING PERSON WHO ENGAGED IN SEXUAL MISCONDUCT OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT. (a) The board may suspend or revoke a certificate held by a person under this subchapter, impose other sanctions against the person, or refuse to issue a certificate to the person under this subchapter if:

(1) the person assists another person in obtaining employment at a school district or open-enrollment charter school, other than by the routine transmission of administrative and personnel files; and

(2) the person knew or should have known that the other person has previously engaged in sexual misconduct with a minor or student in violation of the law.

(b) The board may require a school district to revoke or decline to issue a school district teaching permit under Section 21.055 issued to or requested by a person subject to board action under Subsection (a).

SECTION 7. Section 21.062(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) During an investigation by the commissioner of an educator for an alleged incident of misconduct, the commissioner may issue a subpoena to compel:

(1) the attendance of a relevant witness; or

(2) the production, for inspection or copying, of relevant evidence that is located in this state.

SECTION 8. Section 21.355, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:

(a) A document evaluating the performance of a teacher or administrator is confidential and is not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code.

(d) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may give the agency a document evaluating the performance of a teacher or administrator employed by the district or school.

(e) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) and except as otherwise provided by a court order prohibiting disclosure, a document provided to the agency under Subsection (d) may be used in a disciplinary proceeding against a teacher or administrator based on a report submitted under Section 21.006 concerning an alleged incident of misconduct.

SECTION 9. Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 38.027 to read as follows:

Sec. 38.027. ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION POLICY. (a) In this section, "electronic communication" means any communication facilitated by the use of any electronic device, including a telephone, cellular telephone, computer, computer network, personal data assistant, or pager. The term includes e-mails, text messages, instant messages, and any communications made through an Internet website, including a social media website or a social networking website.

(b) A school district shall adopt a written policy concerning electronic communications between a school employee and a student enrolled in the district.

(c) The policy adopted under this section must include provisions designed to prevent improper electronic communications between a school employee and a student.

SECTION 10. Section 39.057(a), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) The commissioner may authorize special accreditation investigations to be conducted:

(1) when excessive numbers of absences of students eligible to be tested on state assessment instruments are determined;

(2) when excessive numbers of allowable exemptions from the required state assessment instruments are determined;

(3) in response to complaints submitted to the agency with respect to alleged violations of civil rights or other requirements imposed on the state by federal law or court order;

(4) in response to established compliance reviews of the district's financial accounting practices and state and federal program requirements;

(5) when extraordinary numbers of student placements in disciplinary alternative education programs, other than placements under Sections 37.006 and 37.007, are determined;

(6) in response to an allegation involving a conflict between members of the board of trustees or between the board and the district administration if it appears that the conflict involves a violation of a role or duty of the board members or the administration clearly defined by this code;

(7) when excessive numbers of students in special education programs under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, are assessed through assessment instruments developed or adopted under Section 39.023(b);

(8) in response to an allegation regarding or an analysis using a statistical method result indicating a possible violation of an assessment instrument security procedure established under Section 39.0301, including for the purpose of investigating or auditing a school district under that section;

(9) when a significant pattern of decreased academic performance has developed as a result of the promotion in the preceding two school years of students who did not perform satisfactorily as determined by the commissioner under Section 39.0241(a) on assessment instruments administered under Section 39.023(a), (c), or (l);

(10) when excessive numbers of students eligible to enroll fail to complete an Algebra II course or any other advanced course as determined by the commissioner;

(11) when resource allocation practices as evaluated under Section 39.0821 indicate a potential for significant improvement in resource allocation;

(12) when a disproportionate number of students of a particular demographic group is graduating with a particular endorsement under Section 28.025(c-1);

(13) when an excessive number of students is graduating with a particular endorsement under Section 28.025(c-1);

(14) in response to a complaint submitted to the agency with respect to alleged inaccurate data that is reported through the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) or through other reports required by state or federal law or rule or court order and that is used by the agency to make a determination relating to public school accountability, including accreditation, under this chapter; [or]

(15) when a school district for any reason fails to produce, at the request of the agency, evidence or an investigation report relating to an educator who is under investigation by the State Board for Educator Certification; or

(16) as the commissioner otherwise determines necessary.

SECTION 11. The change in law made by this Act to Section 21.12, Penal Code, applies only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense was committed before that date.

SECTION 12. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.