88R20331 ANG-D
 
  By: Martinez H.B. No. 3898
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3898:
 
  By:  Thompson of Harris C.S.H.B. No. 3898
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to establishing a pilot program to provide a life skills
  advisor and establish a life skills circle to assess certain
  student behavior at public high school campuses in certain
  counties.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 33, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 33.010 to read as follows:
         Sec. 33.010.  LIFE SKILLS ADVISOR PILOT PROGRAM. (a)  In
  this section:
               (1)  "Crime of violence" has the meaning assigned by
  Article 59.01, Code of Criminal Procedure.
               (2)  "Pilot program" means the life skills advisor
  pilot program established under this section.
         (b)  This section applies only to a county that:
               (1)  is adjacent to:
                     (A)  at least two counties that border the Gulf of
  Mexico; and
                     (B)  at least two counties that are located on the
  international border; and
               (2)  is located within 50 miles of a county described by
  Subdivision (1).
         (c)  The commissioner shall:
               (1)  establish a life skills advisor pilot program at
  each high school campus located in a county subject to this section
  as a strategy for addressing emotional and mental health concerns
  of students; and
               (2)  develop a mental health and safety curriculum for
  use by life skills advisors under the program.
         (d)  Subject to Subsection (e), a school district located in
  a county subject to this section shall designate for each district
  high school campus located in the county an educator employed by the
  district to serve as a life skills advisor under the pilot program.
         (e)  The number of life skills advisors in a school district
  may not exceed the number of school counselors employed by the
  district.
         (f)  A life skills advisor serving at a high school campus
  under this section shall:
               (1)  collaborate with school district administrators,
  school counselors, social workers, other appropriately
  credentialed mental health professionals, and local law
  enforcement agencies to address mental health concerns affecting
  students at the high school campus;
               (2)  provide instruction to students enrolled at the
  high school campus relating to:
                     (A)  skills and techniques to cope with anxiety,
  frustration, and other emotions; and
                     (B)  the mental health and safety curriculum
  developed by the commissioner under Subsection (c);
               (3)  counsel any students enrolled at the high school
  campus who have committed a crime of violence or are identified as
  having a mental health condition; and
               (4)  establish a life skills circle described by
  Subsection (g) to assess certain student behavior and make a
  recommendation regarding the appropriate disciplinary action a
  school should take in response to that student behavior.
         (g)  A life skills advisor shall establish a life skills
  circle to assess a student's behavior if an incident involving the
  student occurs that:
               (1)  violates school policy;
               (2)  requires the involvement of law enforcement; and
               (3)  involves violence or drugs.
         (h)  A life skills circle established under Subsection (g)
  must include the life skills advisor and students enrolled at the
  high school campus.
         (i)  During a life skills circle, the life skills advisor
  shall facilitate open discussion between participating students
  regarding the relevant incident, including allowing students to ask
  questions, speak to witnesses, and review evidence.
         (j)  Based on discussion during a life skills circle, the
  life skills advisor and participating students shall make a
  recommendation regarding the appropriate disciplinary action the
  school should take against the student whose behavior is being
  assessed and submit the recommendation to the school administrator
  designated by the school district.
         (k)  A recommendation under Subsection (j) may include:
               (1)  restricting the student's participation in certain
  extracurricular activities;
               (2)  requiring the student to perform community
  service; or
               (3)  a combination of the actions described by
  Subdivisions (1) and (2).
         (l)  If the life skills advisor and participating students
  find that the student did not violate school policy, the advisor and
  students shall submit a letter to the designated school
  administrator stating the finding.
         (m)  The school district shall consider the life skills
  circle's recommendation when determining the disciplinary action
  to take against the student.
         (n)  A school district located in a county subject to this
  section may solicit and accept a gift, grant, or donation from any
  source, including a foundation, private entity, governmental
  entity, or institution of higher education to implement or
  administer the pilot program.
         (o)  Not later than January 1, 2029, the commissioner shall
  review the pilot program established under this section and submit
  to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house
  of representatives, and the presiding officer of each legislative
  standing committee with primary jurisdiction over primary and
  secondary education a written report regarding the progress made by
  the pilot program in addressing emotional and mental health
  concerns of students.
         (p)  The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to
  administer the pilot program.
         (q)  This section expires September 1, 2029.
         SECTION 2.  (a) Not later than December 1, 2023, the
  commissioner of education shall adopt rules necessary to implement
  and administer the life skills advisor pilot program established
  under Section 33.010, Education Code, as added by this Act.
         (b)  As soon as practicable after the effective date of this
  Act, the commissioner of education shall develop the mental health
  and safety curriculum required by Section 33.010(c), Education
  Code, as added by this Act.
         (c)  The life skills advisor pilot program established under
  Section 33.010, Education Code, as added by this Act, shall be
  implemented in each public high school located in a county subject
  to that section beginning with the 2024-2025 school year.
         SECTION 3.  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.