BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4454

By: Rodriguez

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been observed that social and emotional learning is integral to developing knowledge and skills necessary to understand and manage one's emotions, achieve goals, and maintain positive relationships. There have been calls to promote social and emotional learning in schools and to ensure that students receive an education that is informed by proper social and emotional learning standards. H.B. 4454 provides for the adoption of such standards for public school educational programs.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 4454 amends the Education Code to require the State Board of Education to adopt developmentally appropriate, evidence-based standards for social and emotional learning, including standards regarding responsible decision-making and the development of competency in self-management, self-awareness, and social awareness for students. The bill requires each public school district to provide these social and emotional learning standards in appropriate educational programs in each grade level.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.