S.B. No. 763
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to allowing public schools to employ or accept as
  volunteers chaplains.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle D, Title 2, Education Code, is amended
  by adding Chapter 23 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 23. SCHOOL CHAPLAINS
         Sec. 23.001.  SCHOOL CHAPLAINS.  (a)  A school district or
  open-enrollment charter school may employ or accept as a volunteer
  a chaplain to provide support, services, and programs for students
  as assigned by the board of trustees of the district or the
  governing body of the school.  A chaplain employed or volunteering
  under this chapter is not required to be certified by the State
  Board for Educator Certification.
         (b)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school
  that employs or accepts as a volunteer a chaplain under this chapter
  shall ensure that the chaplain complies with the applicable
  requirements under Subchapter C, Chapter 22, before the chaplain
  begins employment or volunteering at the district or school.
         (c)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school may
  not employ or accept as a volunteer a chaplain who has been
  convicted of or placed on deferred adjudication community
  supervision for an offense for which a defendant is required to
  register as a sex offender under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal
  Procedure. 
         SECTION 2.  Section 48.115(b), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  Funds allocated under this section must be used to
  improve school safety and security, including costs associated
  with:
               (1)  securing school facilities, including:
                     (A)  improvements to school infrastructure;
                     (B)  the use or installation of physical barriers;
  and
                     (C)  the purchase and maintenance of:
                           (i)  security cameras or other security
  equipment; and
                           (ii)  technology, including communications
  systems or devices, that facilitates communication and information
  sharing between students, school personnel, and first responders in
  an emergency;
               (2)  providing security for the district, including:
                     (A)  employing school district peace officers,
  private security officers, and school marshals; and
                     (B)  collaborating with local law enforcement
  agencies, such as entering into a memorandum of understanding for
  the assignment of school resource officers to schools in the
  district;
               (3)  school safety and security training and planning,
  including:
                     (A)  active shooter and emergency response
  training;
                     (B)  prevention and treatment programs relating
  to addressing adverse childhood experiences; and
                     (C)  the prevention, identification, and
  management of emergencies and threats, using evidence-based,
  effective prevention practices and including:
                           (i)  providing licensed counselors, social
  workers, chaplains, and individuals trained in restorative
  discipline and restorative justice practices;
                           (ii)  providing mental health personnel and
  support, including chaplains;
                           (iii)  providing behavioral health
  services, including services provided by chaplains;
                           (iv)  establishing threat reporting
  systems; and
                           (v)  developing and implementing programs
  focused on restorative justice practices, culturally relevant
  instruction, and providing mental health support, including
  support provided by chaplains; and
               (4)  providing programs related to suicide prevention,
  intervention, and postvention, including programs provided by
  chaplains.
         SECTION 3.  Each board of trustees of a school district and
  each governing body of an open-enrollment charter school shall take
  a record vote not later than six months after the effective date of
  this Act on whether to adopt a policy authorizing a campus of the
  district or school to employ or accept as a volunteer a chaplain
  under Chapter 23, Education Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024
  school year.
         SECTION 5.  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.
 
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 763 passed the Senate on
  April 25, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 18, Nays 12;
  May 11, 2023, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and
  requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 15, 2023, House
  granted request of the Senate; May 23, 2023, Senate adopted
  Conference Committee Report by the following vote:  Yeas 19,
  Nays 12.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 763 passed the House, with
  amendments, on May 9, 2023, by the following vote:  Yeas 89,
  Nays 58, one present not voting; May 15, 2023, House granted
  request of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee;
  May 24, 2023, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the
  following vote:  Yeas 84, Nays 60, one present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
             Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor