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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain policies and procedures for the placement and |
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use of video cameras in certain classrooms, including classrooms |
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that provide special education services. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 26.0081(c), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(c) The agency shall produce and provide to school districts |
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a written explanation of the options and requirements for providing |
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assistance to students who have learning difficulties or who need |
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or may need special education. The explanation must state that a |
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parent is entitled at any time to request an evaluation of the |
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parent's child for special education services under Section 29.004 |
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or for aids, accommodations, or services under Section 504, |
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Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 794) and include |
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information regarding the use of video cameras in certain |
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classrooms as provided by Section 29.022. Each school year, each |
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district shall provide the written explanation to a parent of each |
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district student by including the explanation in the student |
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handbook or by another means. |
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SECTION 2. Section 29.022, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (d), (e), and (l) and adding Subsection (l-1) |
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to read as follows: |
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(d) Before a school or campus activates a video camera in a |
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classroom or other special education setting, including a |
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self-contained classroom, under this section, the school or campus |
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shall provide written notice of the placement to all school or |
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campus staff and to the parents of each student attending class or |
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engaging in school activities in the classroom or setting. Written |
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notice required under this section must be provided not later than |
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the 10th instructional day after the first day the school or campus |
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activates the video camera. |
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(e) Except as provided by Subsection (e-1), a school |
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district or open-enrollment charter school shall retain video |
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recorded from a video camera placed under this section for at least |
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six [three] months after the date the video was recorded. |
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(l) A school district or open-enrollment charter school |
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policy relating to the placement, operation, or maintenance of |
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video cameras under this section must: |
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(1) include information on how a person may appeal an |
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action by the district or school that the person believes to be in |
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violation of this section or a policy adopted in accordance with |
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this section, including the appeals process under Section 7.057; |
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(2) require that the district or school provide a |
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response to a request made under this section not later than the |
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seventh school business day after receipt of the request by the |
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person to whom it must be submitted under Subsection (a-3) that |
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authorizes the request or states the reason for denying the |
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request; |
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(3) except as provided by Subdivision (5), require |
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that a school or a campus begin operation of a video camera in |
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compliance with this section not later than the 45th school |
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business day, or the first school day after the 45th school business |
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day if that day is not a school day, after the request is authorized |
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unless the agency grants an extension of time; |
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(4) permit the parent of a student whose admission, |
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review, and dismissal committee has determined that the student's |
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placement for the following school year will be in a classroom or |
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other special education setting in which a video camera may be |
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placed under this section to make a request for the video camera by |
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the later of: |
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(A) the date on which the current school year |
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ends; or |
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(B) the 10th school business day after the date |
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of the placement determination by the admission, review, and |
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dismissal committee; [and] |
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(5) if a request is made by a parent in compliance with |
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Subdivision (4), unless the agency grants an extension of time, |
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require that a school or campus begin operation of a video camera in |
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compliance with this section not later than the later of: |
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(A) the 10th school day of the fall semester; or |
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(B) the 45th school business day, or the first |
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school day after the 45th school business day if that day is not a |
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school day, after the date the request is made; |
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(6) require that, not later than the seventh school |
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business day after a parent requests the district or school to |
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release a video recording for viewing under Subsection (i)(2), the |
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district or school: |
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(A) release the recording for viewing; or |
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(B) if the district or school determines that the |
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district or school is not required to release the recording under |
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that subsection, provide a written response to the parent that |
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states the reason the district or school is not required to release |
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the recording and includes information regarding how the parent may |
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appeal the action as described by Subdivision (1); and |
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(7) not later than the 10th day of the fall semester, |
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require the district or school to provide written information |
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detailing the policy regarding the placement, operation, or |
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maintenance of any video cameras to the parent of a student who: |
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(A) receives special education services in one or |
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more self-contained classrooms or other special education settings |
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in which a majority of the students in regular attendance are |
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provided special education and related services; or |
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(B) is assigned to one or more self-contained |
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classrooms or other special education settings for at least 50 |
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percent of the instructional day. |
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(l-1) The commissioner shall: |
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(1) develop and post on the agency's Internet website a |
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model form for school districts and open-enrollment charter schools |
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to use to notify parents as required by Subsection (l)(7); and |
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(2) review and update the form, as necessary. |
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SECTION 3. Section 48.115(b), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(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, including video surveillance as provided by Section |
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29.022; 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, using evidence-based, |
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effective prevention practices and including: |
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(i) providing licensed counselors, social |
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workers, and individuals trained in restorative discipline and |
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restorative justice practices; |
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(ii) providing mental health personnel and |
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support; |
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(iii) providing behavioral health |
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services; |
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(iv) establishing threat reporting |
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systems; and |
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(v) developing and implementing programs |
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focused on restorative justice practices, culturally relevant |
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instruction, and providing mental health support; and |
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(4) providing programs related to suicide prevention, |
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intervention, and postvention. |
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SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 5. 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, 2023. |