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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to fentanyl abuse prevention and drug poisoning awareness |
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education in public schools. |
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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 Tucker's Law. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 29.9074 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.9074. FENTANYL POISONING AWARENESS WEEK. (a) To |
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educate students about the dangers posed by the drug fentanyl and |
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the risks of fentanyl poisoning, including overdose, the governor |
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shall designate a week to be known as Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness |
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Week in public schools. |
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(b) Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Week may include |
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age-appropriate instruction, including instruction on the |
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prevention of the abuse of and addiction to fentanyl, as determined |
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by each school district. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 38.040 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 38.040. FENTANYL ABUSE PREVENTION AND DRUG POISONING |
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AWARENESS EDUCATION. (a) Each school district shall annually |
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provide research-based instruction related to fentanyl abuse |
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prevention and drug poisoning awareness to students in grades 6 |
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through 12. |
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(b) The instruction required by this section must include: |
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(1) suicide prevention; |
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(2) prevention of the abuse of and addiction to |
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fentanyl; |
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(3) awareness of local school and community resources |
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and any processes involved in accessing those resources; and |
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(4) health education that includes information about |
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substance use and abuse, including youth substance use and abuse. |
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(c) The instruction required by this section may be provided |
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by an entity or an employee or agent of an entity that is: |
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(1) a public or private institution of higher |
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education; |
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(2) a library; |
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(3) a community service organization; |
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(4) a religious organization; |
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(5) a local public health agency; or |
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(6) an organization employing mental health |
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professionals. |
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SECTION 4. Section 38.351, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (g-1) to read as follows: |
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(g-1) A school district may satisfy a requirement to |
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implement a program in the area of substance abuse prevention and |
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intervention by providing instruction related to youth substance |
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use and abuse education under Section 38.040. |
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SECTION 5. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024 |
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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, 2023. |