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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a matching grant program for school districts for the |
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development and implementation of programs to address the social, |
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emotional, and behavioral needs of students. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 38, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 38.354 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 38.354. MATCHING GRANT PROGRAM. (a) Subject to the |
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availability of federal or state-appropriated funds, the |
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commissioner shall establish a program under which grants are |
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awarded to school districts in an amount to match the amount of |
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funds pledged by the district to develop and implement programs |
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addressing the social, emotional, and behavioral needs of students. |
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Funds used by a district to establish a program under this section |
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must be funds received by the district through the school safety |
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allotment as provided by Section 48.115. |
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(b) In awarding grants under this section, the commissioner |
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shall prioritize the award of grants to school districts located in |
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rural areas and areas that have low property wealth per student. |
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(c) A program developed by a school district using a grant |
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awarded under this section must include research-based practices |
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and may include training, technical assistance, mentoring, |
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coaching, and evaluation services for district personnel and |
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program participants. |
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(d) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to |
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establish the matching grant program under this section. |
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SECTION 2. Section 42.168, Education Code, as added by |
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Chapter 464 (S.B. 11), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2019, is transferred to Subchapter C, Chapter 48, |
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Education Code, redesignated as Section 48.115, Education Code, and |
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amended to conform to changes made by Chapter 943 (H.B. 3), Acts of |
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the 86th Legislature, Regular Session, 2019, to read as follows: |
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Sec. 48.115 [42.168]. SCHOOL SAFETY ALLOTMENT. (a) In |
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this section, "postvention" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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38.351. |
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(b) From funds appropriated for that purpose, the |
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commissioner shall provide to a school district an annual allotment |
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in the amount provided by appropriation for each student in average |
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daily attendance. |
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(c) [(b)] Funds allocated under this section must be used to |
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improve school safety and security, including costs associated |
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with: |
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(1) securing school facilities, including: |
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(A) improvements to school infrastructure; |
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(B) the use or installation of physical barriers; |
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and |
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(C) the purchase and maintenance of: |
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(i) security cameras or other security |
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equipment; and |
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(ii) technology, including communications |
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systems or devices, that facilitates communication and information |
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sharing between students, school personnel, and first responders in |
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an emergency; |
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(2) providing security for the district, including: |
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(A) employing school district peace officers, |
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private security officers, and school marshals; and |
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(B) collaborating with local law enforcement |
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agencies, such as entering into a memorandum of understanding for |
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the assignment of school resource officers to schools in the |
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district; |
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(3) school safety and security training and planning, |
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including: |
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(A) active shooter and emergency response |
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training; |
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(B) prevention and treatment programs relating |
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to addressing adverse childhood experiences; and |
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(C) the prevention, identification, and |
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management of emergencies and threats, including: |
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(i) providing mental health personnel and |
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support; |
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(ii) providing behavioral health services; |
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and |
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(iii) establishing threat reporting |
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systems; and |
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(4) providing programs related to the social, |
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emotional, and behavioral needs of students, including programs |
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related to suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. |
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(d) [(c)] A school district may use funds allocated under |
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this section for equipment or software that is used for a school |
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safety and security purpose and an instructional purpose, provided |
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that the instructional use does not compromise the safety and |
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security purpose of the equipment or software. |
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(e) [(d)] A school district that is required to take action |
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under Chapter 49 [41] to reduce its local revenue level [wealth per |
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student] to the [equalized wealth] level established under Section |
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48.257 is entitled to a credit, in the amount of the allotments to |
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which the district is to receive as provided by appropriation, |
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against the total amount required under Section 49.153 [41.093] for |
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the district to purchase attendance credit [credits]. |
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(f) [(e)] The commissioner may adopt rules to implement |
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this section. |
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SECTION 3. To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails |
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over another Act of the 87th Legislature, Regular Session, 2021, |
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relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted |
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codes. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |