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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to healthy relationships education in public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 28.0043 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28.0043. HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS EDUCATION. (a) In |
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this section, "age-appropriate" means suitable to particular ages |
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or age groups of children or adolescents, based on developing |
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cognitive, emotional, and behavioral capacity typical for the age |
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or age group. |
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(b) A school district shall provide healthy relationships |
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education in accordance with this section at grade levels and in |
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courses specified by the State Board of Education. |
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(c) The State Board of Education by rule shall adopt the |
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essential knowledge and skills for curricula to be used by a school |
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district in providing healthy relationships education under this |
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section that are age-appropriate and supported by research that is |
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peer-reviewed, conducted in compliance with accepted scientific |
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methods, and recognized as accurate by leading professional |
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organizations and agencies with relevant experience. As |
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age-appropriate, the curricula must promote relationship, |
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communication, and decision-making skills, including strategies |
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to: |
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(1) develop healthy, age-appropriate relationships; |
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(2) develop healthy life skills, including critical |
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thinking, problem solving, effective communication, and |
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responsible decision making about relationships; and |
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(3) promote effective communication between |
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adolescents and their parents, legal guardians, or other family |
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members about relationships. |
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SECTION 2. Section 12.104(b), Education Code, as amended by |
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Chapters 324 (S.B. 1488), 522 (S.B. 179), and 735 (S.B. 1153), Acts |
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of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, is reenacted and |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) An open-enrollment charter school is subject to: |
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(1) a provision of this title establishing a criminal |
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offense; and |
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(2) a prohibition, restriction, or requirement, as |
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applicable, imposed by this title or a rule adopted under this |
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title, relating to: |
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(A) the Public Education Information Management |
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System (PEIMS) to the extent necessary to monitor compliance with |
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this subchapter as determined by the commissioner; |
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(B) criminal history records under Subchapter C, |
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Chapter 22; |
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(C) reading instruments and accelerated reading |
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instruction programs under Section 28.006; |
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(D) accelerated instruction under Section |
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28.0211; |
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(E) high school graduation requirements under |
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Section 28.025; |
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(F) special education programs under Subchapter |
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A, Chapter 29; |
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(G) bilingual education under Subchapter B, |
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Chapter 29; |
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(H) prekindergarten programs under Subchapter E |
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or E-1, Chapter 29; |
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(I) extracurricular activities under Section |
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33.081; |
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(J) discipline management practices or behavior |
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management techniques under Section 37.0021; |
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(K) health and safety under Chapter 38; |
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(L) public school accountability under |
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Subchapters B, C, D, F, G, and J, Chapter 39, and Chapter 39A; |
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(M) the requirement under Section 21.006 to |
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report an educator's misconduct; |
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(N) intensive programs of instruction under |
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Section 28.0213; |
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(O) the right of a school employee to report a |
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crime, as provided by Section 37.148; [and] |
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(P) bullying prevention policies and procedures |
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under Section 37.0832; |
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(Q) the right of a school under Section 37.0052 |
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to place a student who has engaged in certain bullying behavior in a |
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disciplinary alternative education program or to expel the student; |
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[and] |
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(R) the right under Section 37.0151 to report to |
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local law enforcement certain conduct constituting assault or |
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harassment; |
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(S) [(P)] a parent's right to information |
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regarding the provision of assistance for learning difficulties to |
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the parent's child as provided by Sections 26.004(b)(11) and |
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26.0081(c) and (d); and |
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(T) healthy relationships education under |
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Section 28.0043. |
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SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2020-2021 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 4. To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails |
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over another Act of the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019, |
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relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted |
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codes. |
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SECTION 5. 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, 2019. |