By: Creighton, Menéndez  S.B. No. 838
         (In the Senate - Filed February 10, 2023; March 1, 2023,
  read first time and referred to Committee on Education;
  April 3, 2023, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
  Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 12, Nays 0; April 3, 2023,
  sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 838 By:  Menéndez
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to school districts and open-enrollment charter schools
  providing silent panic alert technology in classrooms.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  This Act may be cited as Alyssa's Law.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter D, Chapter 37, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 37.117 to read as follows:
         Sec. 37.117.  SILENT PANIC ALERT TECHNOLOGY. (a)  Each
  school district and open-enrollment charter school shall provide
  each classroom in the district or school with silent panic alert
  technology that allows for immediate contact with district or
  school emergency services and emergency services agencies, law
  enforcement agencies, health departments, and fire departments.
         (b)  Silent panic alert technology provided by a school
  district or open-enrollment charter school under this section does
  not satisfy the requirement under Section 37.108(a)(2) for the
  district or school to ensure employees have classroom access to a
  telephone or another electronic communication device.
         (c)  To comply with this section, a school district or
  open-enrollment charter school may:
               (1)  use funds provided to the district or school
  through the school safety allotment under Section 48.115 or other
  available funds; and
               (2)  use the district's or school's customary
  procurement process.
         SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026
  school year.
         SECTION 4.  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.
 
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