By: Bernal H.B. No. 285
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the expulsion of public school students for engaging in
  conduct that constitutes serious offenses.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 37.007, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 37.007.  EXPULSION FOR SERIOUS OFFENSES. (a)  Subject
  to the considerations required under Subsection (c) and except
  [Except] as provided by Subsection (h) [(k)], a student shall be
  expelled from a school if the student:
               (1)  while[,] on school property or while attending a
  school-sponsored or school-related activity on or off of school
  property:
                     (A) [(1)]  engages in conduct that contains the
  elements of the offense of unlawfully carrying weapons under
  Section 46.02, Penal Code, or elements of an offense relating to
  prohibited weapons under Section 46.05, Penal Code;
                     (B) [(2)]  engages in conduct that contains the
  elements of the offense of:
                           (i) [(A)]  aggravated assault under Section
  22.02, Penal Code, sexual assault under Section 22.011, Penal Code,
  or aggravated sexual assault under Section 22.021, Penal Code;
                           (ii) [(B)]  arson under Section 28.02, Penal
  Code;
                           (iii) [(C)]  murder under Section 19.02,
  Penal Code, capital murder under Section 19.03, Penal Code, or
  criminal attempt, under Section 15.01, Penal Code, to commit murder
  or capital murder;
                           (iv) [(D)]  indecency with a child under
  Section 21.11, Penal Code;
                           (v) [(E)]  aggravated kidnapping under
  Section 20.04, Penal Code;
                           (vi) [(F)]  aggravated robbery under
  Section 29.03, Penal Code;
                           (vii) [(G)]  manslaughter under Section
  19.04, Penal Code;
                           (viii) [(H)]  criminally negligent homicide
  under Section 19.05, Penal Code; or
                           (ix) [(I)]  continuous sexual abuse of young
  child or children under Section 21.02, Penal Code; or
                     (C) [(3)]  engages in conduct specified by
  Section 37.006(a)(2)(C) or (D), if the conduct is punishable as a
  felony.
         (b)  Subject to the considerations required under Subsection
  (c), a [A] student may be expelled if the student:
               (1)  engages in conduct involving a public school that
  contains the elements of the offense of false alarm or report under
  Section 42.06, Penal Code, or terroristic threat under Section
  22.07, Penal Code;
               (2)  while on or within 300 feet of school property, as
  measured from any point on the school's real property boundary
  line, or while attending a school-sponsored or school-related
  activity on or off of school property:
                     (A)  sells, gives, or delivers to another person
  or possesses, uses, or is under the influence of any amount of:
                           (i)  marihuana or a controlled substance, as
  defined by Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, or by 21 U.S.C.
  Section 801 et seq.;
                           (ii)  a dangerous drug, as defined by
  Chapter 483, Health and Safety Code; or
                           (iii)  an alcoholic beverage, as defined by
  Section 1.04, Alcoholic Beverage Code;
                     (B)  engages in conduct that contains the elements
  of an offense relating to an abusable volatile chemical under
  Section [Sections] 485.031, 485.032, 485.033, or [through]
  485.034, Health and Safety Code;
                     (C)  engages in conduct that contains the elements
  of an offense under Section 22.01(a)(1), Penal Code, against a
  school district employee or a volunteer as defined by Section
  22.053 of this code; or
                     (D)  engages in conduct that contains the elements
  of the offense of deadly conduct under Section 22.05, Penal Code;
               (3)  subject to Subsection (a)(2) [(d)], while within
  300 feet of school property, as measured from any point on the
  school's real property boundary line:
                     (A)  engages in conduct specified by Subsection
  (a)(1); or
                     (B)  possesses a firearm, as defined by 18 U.S.C.
  Section 921;
               (4)  engages in conduct that contains the elements of
  any offense listed in Subsection (a)(1)(B)(i) [(a)(2)(A)] or (iii)
  [(C)] or the offense of aggravated robbery under Section 29.03,
  Penal Code, against another student, without regard to whether the
  conduct occurs on or off of school property or while attending a
  school-sponsored or school-related activity on or off of school
  property; [or]
               (5)  engages in conduct that contains the elements of
  the offense of breach of computer security under Section 33.02,
  Penal Code, if:
                     (A)  the conduct involves accessing a computer,
  computer network, or computer system owned by or operated on behalf
  of a school district; and
                     (B)  the student knowingly:
                           (i)  alters, damages, or deletes school
  district property or information; or
                           (ii)  commits a breach of any other
  computer, computer network, or computer system;
               (6) [. (c) A student may be expelled if the student,]
  while placed in a disciplinary alternative education program,
  engages in any of the following documented serious misbehavior
  while on the program campus despite documented behavioral
  interventions[.  For purposes of this subsection, "serious
  misbehavior" means]:
                     (A) [(1)]  deliberate violent behavior that poses
  a direct threat to the health or safety of others;
                     (B) [(2)]  extortion, meaning the gaining of
  money or other property by force or threat;
                     (C) [(3)]  conduct that constitutes coercion, as
  defined by Section 1.07, Penal Code; or
                     (D) [(4)]  conduct that constitutes the offense
  of:
                           (i) [(A)] public lewdness under Section
  21.07, Penal Code;
                           (ii) [(B)]  indecent exposure under Section
  21.08, Penal Code;
                           (iii) [(C)]  criminal mischief under
  Section 28.03, Penal Code;
                           (iv) [(D)]  personal hazing under Section
  37.152; or
                           (v) [(E)]  harassment under Section
  42.07(a)(1), Penal Code, of a student or district employee;
               (7) [. (d) A student shall be expelled if the student 
  engages in conduct that contains the elements of any offense listed
  in Subsection (a), and may be expelled if the student] engages in
  conduct that contains the elements of any offense listed in
  Subdivision (2)(C) [Subsection (b)(2)(C)], against any employee or
  volunteer in retaliation for or as a result of the person's
  employment or association with a school district, without regard to
  whether the conduct occurs on or off of school property or while
  attending a school-sponsored or school-related activity on or off
  of school property;
               (8)  engages in conduct that contains the elements of
  the offense of criminal mischief under Section 28.03, Penal Code,
  if the conduct is punishable as a felony under that section; or
               (9)  engages in conduct described by Subsection (a)(1)
  while:
                     (A)  on school property of another district in
  this state; or
                     (B)  attending a school-sponsored or
  school-related activity of a school in another district in this
  state.
         (c)  A school district shall consider each factor listed
  under Section 37.001(a)(4) before making a decision to expel a
  student under Subsection (a) or (b).
         (d) [(e)]  In accordance with 20 U.S.C. Section 7151, a local
  educational agency, including a school district, home-rule school
  district, or open-enrollment charter school, shall expel a student
  who brings a firearm, as defined by 18 U.S.C. Section 921, to
  school.  The student must be expelled from the student's regular
  campus for a period of at least one year, except that:
               (1)  the superintendent or other chief administrative
  officer of the school district or of the other local educational
  agency, as defined by 20 U.S.C. Section 7801, may modify the length
  of the expulsion in the case of an individual student;
               (2)  the district or other local educational agency
  shall provide educational services to an expelled student in a
  disciplinary alternative education program as provided by Section
  37.008 if the student is younger than 10 years of age on the date of
  expulsion; and
               (3)  the district or other local educational agency may
  provide educational services to an expelled student who is 10 years
  of age or older in a disciplinary alternative education program as
  provided in Section 37.008.
         (e) [(f)]  A student who engages in conduct described by
  Subsection (b)(8) [that contains the elements of the offense of
  criminal mischief under Section 28.03, Penal Code, may be expelled
  at the district's discretion if the conduct is punishable as a
  felony under that section.  The student] shall be referred to the
  authorized officer of the juvenile court regardless of whether the
  student is expelled under Subsection (b).
         (f) [(g)]  In addition to any notice required under Article
  15.27, Code of Criminal Procedure, a school district shall inform
  each educator who has responsibility for, or is under the direction
  and supervision of an educator who has responsibility for, the
  instruction of a student who has engaged in any violation listed in
  this section of the student's misconduct. Each educator shall keep
  the information received under this subsection confidential from
  any person not entitled to the information under this subsection,
  except that the educator may share the information with the
  student's parent or guardian as provided for by state or federal
  law. The State Board for Educator Certification may revoke or
  suspend the certification of an educator who intentionally violates
  this subsection.
         (g) [(h)]  Subject to Subsection (d) [(e)], notwithstanding
  any other provision of this section, a student who is younger than
  10 years of age may not be expelled for engaging in conduct
  described by this section.
         (h) [(i) A student who engages in conduct described by
  Subsection (a) may be expelled from school by the district in which
  the student attends school if the student engages in that conduct:
               [(1)  on school property of another district in this
  state; or
               [(2)  while attending a school-sponsored or
  school-related activity of a school in another district in this
  state.
         [(k)]  A student may not be expelled solely on the basis of
  the student's use, exhibition, or possession of a firearm that
  occurs:
               (1)  at an approved target range facility that is not
  located on a school campus; and
               (2)  while participating in or preparing for a
  school-sponsored shooting sports competition or a shooting sports
  educational activity that is sponsored or supported by the Parks
  and Wildlife Department or a shooting sports sanctioning
  organization working with the department.
         (i) [(l)]  Subsection (h) [(k)] does not authorize a student
  to bring a firearm on school property to participate in or prepare
  for a school-sponsored shooting sports competition or a shooting
  sports educational activity described by that subsection.
         SECTION 2.  Section 37.001(e), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (e)  Except as provided by Section 37.007(d) [37.007(e)],
  this subchapter does not require the student code of conduct to
  specify a minimum term of a removal under Section 37.006 or an
  expulsion under Section 37.007.
         SECTION 3.  Section 37.002(d), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (d)  A teacher shall remove from class and send to the
  principal for placement in a disciplinary alternative education
  program or for expulsion, as appropriate, a student who engages in
  conduct described under Section 37.006 or 37.007. The student may
  not be returned to that teacher's class without the teacher's
  consent unless the committee established under Section 37.003
  determines that such placement is the best or only alternative
  available.  If the teacher removed the student from class because
  the student has engaged in the elements of any offense listed in
  Section 37.006(a)(2)(B) or Section 37.007(a)(1)(B)(i)
  [37.007(a)(2)(A)] or (b)(2)(C) against the teacher, the student may
  not be returned to the teacher's class without the teacher's
  consent.  The teacher may not be coerced to consent.
         SECTION 4.  Section 37.0021(f), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (f)  For purposes of this subsection, "weapon" includes any
  weapon described under Section 37.007(a)(1)(A) [37.007(a)(1)].  
  This section does not prevent a student's locked, unattended
  confinement in an emergency situation while awaiting the arrival of
  law enforcement personnel if:
               (1)  the student possesses a weapon; and
               (2)  the confinement is necessary to prevent the
  student from causing bodily harm to the student or another person.
         SECTION 5.  Sections 37.006(b), (f), and (l), Education
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  Except as provided by Sections 37.007(a)(2) and (b)(7)
  [Section 37.007(d)], a student shall be removed from class and
  placed in a disciplinary alternative education program under
  Section 37.008 if the student engages in conduct on or off of school
  property that contains the elements of the offense of retaliation
  under Section 36.06, Penal Code, against any school employee.
         (f)  Subject to Section 37.007(d) [37.007(e)], a student who
  is younger than 10 years of age shall be removed from class and
  placed in a disciplinary alternative education program under
  Section 37.008 if the student engages in conduct described by
  Section 37.007. An elementary school student may not be placed in a
  disciplinary alternative education program with any other student
  who is not an elementary school student.
         (l)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, other
  than Section 37.007(d)(2) [37.007(e)(2)], a student who is younger
  than six years of age may not be removed from class and placed in a
  disciplinary alternative education program.
         SECTION 6.  Section 37.010(b), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  If a student is expelled under Section 37.007(b)(6)
  [37.007(c)], the board or its designee shall refer the student to
  the authorized officer of the juvenile court for appropriate
  proceedings under Title 3, Family Code.
         SECTION 7.  Sections 37.011(b), (h), (k), (l), and (p),
  Education Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  If a student admitted into the public schools of a
  school district under Section 25.001(b) is expelled from school
  [for conduct for which expulsion is required] under Section
  37.007(a) or (d) [37.007(a), (d), or (e)], or for conduct that
  contains the elements of the offense of terroristic threat as
  described by Section 22.07(c-1), (d), or (e), Penal Code, the
  juvenile court, the juvenile board, or the juvenile board's
  designee, as appropriate, shall:
               (1)  if the student is placed on probation under
  Section 54.04, Family Code, order the student to attend the
  juvenile justice alternative education program in the county in
  which the student resides from the date of disposition as a
  condition of probation, unless the child is placed in a
  post-adjudication treatment facility;
               (2)  if the student is placed on deferred prosecution
  under Section 53.03, Family Code, by the court, prosecutor, or
  probation department, require the student to immediately attend the
  juvenile justice alternative education program in the county in
  which the student resides for a period not to exceed six months as a
  condition of the deferred prosecution;
               (3)  in determining the conditions of the deferred
  prosecution or court-ordered probation, consider the length of the
  school district's expulsion order for the student; and
               (4)  provide timely educational services to the student
  in the juvenile justice alternative education program in the county
  in which the student resides, regardless of the student's age or
  whether the juvenile court has jurisdiction over the student.
         (h)  Academically, the mission of juvenile justice
  alternative education programs shall be to enable students to
  perform at grade level. For purposes of accountability under
  Chapters 39 and 39A, a student enrolled in a juvenile justice
  alternative education program is reported as if the student were
  enrolled at the student's assigned campus in the student's
  regularly assigned education program, including a special
  education program.  Annually the Texas Juvenile Justice Department,
  with the agreement of the commissioner, shall develop and implement
  a system of accountability consistent with Chapters 39 and 39A,
  where appropriate, to assure that students make progress toward
  grade level while attending a juvenile justice alternative
  education program.  The department shall adopt rules for the
  distribution of funds appropriated under this section to juvenile
  boards in counties required to establish juvenile justice
  alternative education programs. Except as determined by the
  commissioner, a student served by a juvenile justice alternative
  education program on the basis of an expulsion [required] under
  Section 37.007(a) or (d) [37.007(a), (d), or (e)] is not eligible
  for Foundation School Program funding under Chapter 31 or 48 if the
  juvenile justice alternative education program receives funding
  from the department under this subchapter.
         (k)  Each school district in a county with a population
  greater than 125,000 and the county juvenile board shall annually
  enter into a joint memorandum of understanding that:
               (1)  outlines the responsibilities of the juvenile
  board concerning the establishment and operation of a juvenile
  justice alternative education program under this section;
               (2)  defines the amount and conditions on payments from
  the school district to the juvenile board for students of the school
  district served in the juvenile justice alternative education
  program whose placement was not made on the basis of an expulsion
  [required] under Section 37.007(a) or (d) [37.007(a), (d), or (e)];
               (3)  establishes that a student may be placed in the
  juvenile justice alternative education program if the student
  engages in any serious misbehavior described[, as defined] by
  Section 37.007(b)(6) [37.007(c)];
               (4)  identifies and requires a timely placement and
  specifies a term of placement for expelled students for whom the
  school district has received a notice under Section 52.041(d),
  Family Code;
               (5)  establishes services for the transitioning of
  expelled students to the school district prior to the completion of
  the student's placement in the juvenile justice alternative
  education program;
               (6)  establishes a plan that provides transportation
  services for students placed in the juvenile justice alternative
  education program;
               (7)  establishes the circumstances and conditions
  under which a juvenile may be allowed to remain in the juvenile
  justice alternative education program setting once the juvenile is
  no longer under juvenile court jurisdiction; and
               (8)  establishes a plan to address special education
  services required by law.
         (l)  The school district shall be responsible for providing
  an immediate educational program to students who engage in behavior
  resulting in expulsion under Section 37.007(b) [and (f)] but who
  are not eligible for admission into the juvenile justice
  alternative education program in accordance with the memorandum of
  understanding required under this section. The school district may
  provide the program or the school district may contract with a
  county juvenile board, a private provider, or one or more other
  school districts to provide the program. The memorandum of
  understanding shall address the circumstances under which such
  students who continue to engage in any serious misbehavior
  described[, as defined] by Section 37.007(b)(6) [37.007(c),] shall
  be admitted into the juvenile justice alternative education
  program.
         (p)  If a district elects to contract with the juvenile board
  for placement in the juvenile justice alternative education program
  of students expelled under Section 37.007(b)[, (c), and (f)] and
  the juvenile board and district are unable to reach an agreement in
  the memorandum of understanding, either party may request that the
  issues of dispute be referred to a binding arbitration process that
  uses a qualified alternative dispute resolution arbitrator in which
  each party will pay its pro rata share of the arbitration costs.  
  Each party must submit its final proposal to the arbitrator.  If the
  parties cannot agree on an arbitrator, the juvenile board shall
  select an arbitrator, the school districts shall select an
  arbitrator, and those two arbitrators shall select an arbitrator
  who will decide the issues in dispute. An arbitration decision
  issued under this subsection is enforceable in a court in the county
  in which the juvenile justice alternative education program is
  located. Any decision by an arbitrator concerning the amount of the
  funding for a student who is expelled and attending a juvenile
  justice alternative education program must provide an amount
  sufficient based on operation of the juvenile justice alternative
  education program in accordance with this chapter. In determining
  the amount to be paid by a school district for an expelled student
  enrolled in a juvenile justice alternative education program, the
  arbitrator shall consider the relevant factors, including evidence
  of:
               (1)  the actual average total per student expenditure
  in the district's alternative education setting;
               (2)  the expected per student cost in the juvenile
  justice alternative education program as described and agreed on in
  the memorandum of understanding and in compliance with this
  chapter; and
               (3)  the costs necessary to achieve the accountability
  goals under this chapter.
         SECTION 8.  Section 37.012(a), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  Subject to Section 37.011(n), the school district in
  which a student is enrolled on the date the student is expelled [for
  conduct for which expulsion is permitted but not required] under
  Section 37.007(b) [37.007] shall, if the student is served by the
  juvenile justice alternative education program, provide funding to
  the juvenile board for the portion of the school year for which the
  juvenile justice alternative education program provides
  educational services in an amount determined by the memorandum of
  understanding under Section 37.011(k)(2).
         SECTION 9.  Section 37.015(a), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  The principal of a public or private primary or
  secondary school, or a person designated by the principal under
  Subsection (d), shall notify any school district police department
  and the police department of the municipality in which the school is
  located or, if the school is not in a municipality, the sheriff of
  the county in which the school is located if the principal has
  reasonable grounds to believe that any of the following activities
  occur in school, on school property, or at a school-sponsored or
  school-related activity on or off school property, whether or not
  the activity is investigated by school security officers:
               (1)  conduct that may constitute an offense listed
  under Section 508.149, Government Code;
               (2)  deadly conduct under Section 22.05, Penal Code;
               (3)  a terroristic threat under Section 22.07, Penal
  Code;
               (4)  the use, sale, or possession of a controlled
  substance, drug paraphernalia, or marihuana under Chapter 481,
  Health and Safety Code;
               (5)  the possession of any of the weapons or devices
  listed under Sections 46.01(1)-(14) or Section 46.01(16), Penal
  Code;
               (6)  conduct that may constitute a criminal offense
  under Section 71.02, Penal Code; or
               (7)  conduct that may constitute a criminal offense for
  which a student may be expelled under Section 37.007(a) or (d)
  [37.007(a), (d), or (e)].
         SECTION 10.  Section 37.020(c), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (c)  For each expulsion under Section 37.007, the district
  shall report:
               (1)  information identifying the student, including
  the student's race, sex, and date of birth, that will enable the
  agency to compare placement data with information collected through
  other reports;
               (2)  information indicating whether the expulsion was
  based on:
                     (A)  conduct described by [for which expulsion is
  required under] Section 37.007(a) [37.007, including information
  specifically indicating whether a student was expelled on the basis
  of Section 37.007(e)]; [or]
                     (B)  conduct described by [for which expulsion is
  permitted under] Section 37.007(b) [37.007]; or
                     (C)  conduct described by Section 37.007(d);
               (3)  the number of full or partial days the student was
  expelled;
               (4)  information indicating whether:
                     (A)  the student was placed in a juvenile justice
  alternative education program under Section 37.011;
                     (B)  the student was placed in a disciplinary
  alternative education program; or
                     (C)  the student was not placed in a juvenile
  justice or other disciplinary alternative education program; and
               (5)  the number of expulsions that were inconsistent
  with the guidelines included in the student code of conduct under
  Section 37.001(a)(5).
         SECTION 11.  Section 37.022(c), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (c)  Subject to Section 37.007(d) [37.007(e)], the district
  or school in which the student enrolls may continue the
  disciplinary action under the terms of the order or may allow the
  student to attend regular classes without completing the period of
  disciplinary action.
         SECTION 12.  Section 37.310, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 37.310.  FUNDING FOR REGISTERED SEX OFFENDER PLACED IN
  JUVENILE JUSTICE ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM. A juvenile justice
  alternative education program is entitled to funding for a student
  who is placed in the program under this subchapter in the same
  manner as a juvenile justice alternative education program is
  entitled to funding under Section 37.012 for a student who is
  expelled and placed in a juvenile justice alternative education
  program for conduct described by [for which expulsion is permitted
  but not required under] Section 37.007(b) [37.007].
         SECTION 13.  Section 51.03(b), Family Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  Conduct indicating a need for supervision is:
               (1)  subject to Subsection (f), conduct, other than a
  traffic offense, that violates:
                     (A)  the penal laws of this state of the grade of
  misdemeanor that are punishable by fine only; or
                     (B)  the penal ordinances of any political
  subdivision of this state;
               (2)  the voluntary absence of a child from the child's
  home without the consent of the child's parent or guardian for a
  substantial length of time or without intent to return;
               (3)  conduct prohibited by city ordinance or by state
  law involving the inhalation of the fumes or vapors of paint and
  other protective coatings or glue and other adhesives and the
  volatile chemicals itemized in Section 485.001, Health and Safety
  Code;
               (4)  an act that violates a school district's
  previously communicated written standards of student conduct for
  which the child has been expelled under Section 37.007(b)(6)
  [37.007(c)], Education Code;
               (5)  notwithstanding Subsection (a)(1), conduct
  described by Section 43.02(a) or (b), Penal Code; or
               (6)  notwithstanding Subsection (a)(1), conduct that
  violates Section 43.261, Penal Code.
         SECTION 14.  This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024
  school year.
         SECTION 15.  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, 2023.