BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1109

By: West

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Child abuse, family violence, and dating violence are issues that significantly impact a student's educational and personal experiences. Though these issues are prevalent, they are frequently not discussed and as a result, students are ill-equipped and lack resources to assist them in these difficult times and challenging circumstances. According to the CDC, nearly 1 in 11 female high school students and 1 in 14 male high school students have experienced physical dating violence in the last year, and approximately 1 in 8 female high school students and 1 in 26 male high school students experienced sexual dating violence in the last year. S.B. 1109 seeks to address this issue by requiring the State Board of Education to adopt rules requiring students to receive instruction on the prevention of child abuse, family violence, and dating violence, as part of the essential knowledge and skills requirements to satisfy the health curriculum requirements. The bill also requires public school districts to make available to students age-appropriate educational materials that include information on the dangers of dating violence and resources to students seeking help.

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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the State Board of Education in SECTION 2 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1109 amends the Education Code to require the State Board of Education, as part of the essential knowledge and skills for the health curriculum required in each public school district that offers kindergarten through grade 12, to adopt rules requiring students to receive instruction on the prevention of child abuse, family violence, and dating violence at least once in middle or junior high school and at least twice in high school. The instruction must include information on the following:

·         the dating violence policy adopted by the student's district;

·         the prevalence of dating violence and the recognition of abuse warning signs;

·         the procedures for reporting violence or abuse; and

·         educational materials or resources made available to students by their district as required by the bill.

S.B. 1109 requires a district's adopted dating violence policy to include the following:

·         a clear statement that dating violence is not tolerated at school;

·         reporting procedures and guidelines for students who are victims of dating violence; and

·         information regarding the essential knowledge and skills relating to dating violence required by the bill.

The bill requires a district, to the extent possible, to make available to students age-appropriate educational materials that include information on the dangers of dating violence and resources to students seeking help.

S.B. 1109 applies beginning with the 2021-2022 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.