86R14069 TSS-F
 
  By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 2106
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to including referral of a student to a restorative
  justice or discipline program as part of a school district's system
  of graduated sanctions for certain school offenses.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 37.144, Education Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  A school district that commissions peace officers under
  Section 37.081 may develop a system of graduated sanctions that the
  school district may require to be imposed on a child before a
  complaint is filed under Section 37.145 against the child for a
  school offense that is an offense under Section 37.124 or 37.126 or
  under Section 42.01(a)(1), (2), (3), (4), or (5), Penal Code. A
  system adopted under this section must include multiple graduated
  sanctions. The system may require:
               (1)  a warning letter to be issued to the child and the
  child's parent or guardian that specifically states the child's
  alleged school offense and explains the consequences if the child
  engages in additional misconduct;
               (2)  a behavior contract with the child that must be
  signed by the child, the child's parent or guardian, and an employee
  of the school and that includes a specific description of the
  behavior that is required or prohibited for the child and the
  penalties for additional alleged school offenses, including
  additional disciplinary action or the filing of a complaint in a
  criminal court;
               (3)  the performance of school-based community service
  by the child; and
               (4)  the referral of the child to counseling,
  community-based services, restorative justice or discipline
  programs, or other in-school or out-of-school services aimed at
  addressing the child's behavioral problems.
         (c)  In this section, "restorative justice or discipline
  program" includes a program that addresses student behavior by
  building relationships and encouraging belonging over exclusion,
  social engagement over control, and meaningful accountability over
  punishment. 
         SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020
  school year.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2019.