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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring public schools to provide instruction and |
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materials and adopt policies relating to the prevention of child |
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abuse, family violence, and dating violence. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Christina Blubaugh |
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Act. |
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SECTION 2. Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (u) to read as follows: |
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(u) As part of the essential knowledge and skills for the |
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health curriculum under Subsection (a)(2)(B), the State Board of |
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Education shall adopt rules requiring students to receive |
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instruction on the prevention of child abuse, family violence, and |
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dating violence at least once in middle or junior high school and at |
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least twice in high school. The instruction must include |
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information on: |
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(1) the dating violence policy adopted by the |
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student's school district under Section 37.0831; |
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(2) the prevalence of dating violence and the |
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recognition of abuse warning signs; |
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(3) the procedures for reporting violence or abuse; |
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and |
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(4) educational materials or resources available to |
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students under Section 37.0831(c). |
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SECTION 3. The heading to Section 37.0831, Education Code, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 37.0831. DATING VIOLENCE POLICIES; EDUCATIONAL |
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MATERIALS AND RESOURCES. |
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SECTION 4. Section 37.0831, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b) A dating violence policy must: |
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(1) include: |
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(A) a definition of dating violence that includes |
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the intentional use of physical, sexual, verbal, or emotional abuse |
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by a person to harm, threaten, intimidate, or control another |
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person in a dating relationship, as defined by Section 71.0021, |
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Family Code; |
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(B) a clear statement that dating violence is not |
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tolerated at school; |
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(C) reporting procedures and guidelines for |
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students who are victims of dating violence; and |
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(D) information regarding the essential |
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knowledge and skills relating to dating violence required under |
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Section 28.002(u); and |
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(2) address safety planning, enforcement of |
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protective orders, school-based alternatives to protective orders, |
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training for teachers and administrators, counseling for affected |
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students, and awareness education for students and parents. |
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(c) To the extent possible, a school district shall make |
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available to students: |
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(1) age-appropriate educational materials that |
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include information on the dangers of dating violence; and |
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(2) resources to students seeking help. |
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SECTION 5. This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 6. 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, 2021. |