87R22655 JES-D
 
  By: Thierry, Bonnen, Patterson, et al. H.B. No. 204
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 204:
 
  By:  Dutton C.S.H.B. No. 204
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to school districts and open-enrollment charter schools
  providing panic alert devices in classrooms.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  This Act may be cited as Alyssa's Law.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter D, Chapter 37, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 37.116 and 37.117 to read as follows:
         Sec. 37.116.  PANIC ALERT DEVICE. (a)  Except as provided by
  Section 37.117, each school district and open-enrollment charter
  school shall provide each classroom in the district or school with a
  panic alert device that allows for immediate contact with district
  emergency services or emergency services agencies, law enforcement
  agencies, health departments, and fire departments.
         (b)  A panic alert device provided by a school district or
  open-enrollment charter school under this section does not satisfy
  the requirement under Section 37.108(a)(2) for the district or
  school to ensure employees have classroom access to a telephone or
  another electronic communication device.
         (c)  To comply with this section, a school district or
  open-enrollment charter school may:
               (1)  use funds provided to the district or school
  through the school safety allotment under Section 42.168 or other
  available funds; and
               (2)  use the district's or school's customary
  procurement process.
         Sec. 37.117.  PANIC ALERT DEVICE OPT-OUT RESOLUTION. The
  board of trustees of a school district or the governing body of an
  open-enrollment charter school may elect not to provide panic alert
  devices as required by Section 37.116 if the board or governing body
  determines that the district or school does not have sufficient
  money available to provide the devices. An election made under this
  section must be authorized by a resolution adopted by majority vote
  of the board or governing body in an open meeting.
         SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024
  school year.
         SECTION 4.  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, 2021.