86R21542 TSS-D

By: Rosenthal, Allen, Talarico, Toth, et al. H.B. No. 2655

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2655:

By: González of El Paso C.S.H.B. No. 2655

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an active shooter emergency protocol for public school districts and required active shooter training for school district peace officers and school resource officers.

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

SECTION 1. Section 37.108, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsections (f) and (g) to read as follows:

(f) A school district shall include in its multihazard emergency operations plan a protocol for responding to an active shooter emergency in a district facility. The protocol must provide for school drills and exercises to prepare for an active shooter emergency as part of the mandatory school drills and exercises under Subsection (a)(2).

(g) The commissioner shall adopt rules providing the number and content of mandatory school drills required under Subsection (f). In adopting rules under this subsection, the commissioner shall consult with a public institution of higher education that provides active shooter response training.

SECTION 2. Section 37.0812, Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 37.0812. TRAINING POLICY: SCHOOL DISTRICT PEACE OFFICERS AND SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS. (a) A school district peace officer or school resource officer shall complete an active shooter response training program approved by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

(b) A school district with an enrollment of 30,000 or more students that commissions a school district peace officer or at which a school resource officer provides law enforcement shall adopt a policy requiring the officer to complete the education and training program required by Section 1701.263, Occupations Code.

SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the commissioner of education shall adopt the rules required by Section 37.108(g), Education Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall approve an active shooter response training program required under Section 37.0812, Education Code, as amended by this Act.

SECTION 5. A school district peace officer or school resource officer who begins employment with or begins providing law enforcement at a school district on a date occurring before September 1, 2019, shall complete the training required by Section 37.0812, Education Code, as amended by this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act but not later than August 31, 2020.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.