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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of a suicide awareness and prevention, |
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youth violence prevention, and social inclusion program for public |
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school students. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 38, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 38.354, 38.355, and 38.356 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 38.354. TRAINING FOR STUDENTS REGARDING SUICIDE |
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AWARENESS AND PREVENTION AND YOUTH VIOLENCE PREVENTION. (a) Each |
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school year, a school district shall provide to students enrolled |
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in the district in grades 6 through 12 training regarding suicide |
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awareness and prevention and youth violence prevention. The |
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training must include: |
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(1) at least one hour or a standard class period of |
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evidence-based instruction regarding suicide awareness and |
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prevention with information and materials on: |
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(A) methods for identifying the signs and signals |
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of depression, suicide, and self-harm in the student's self and |
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other students; and |
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(B) the importance of and process for seeking |
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help for the student's self or another student; and |
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(2) at least one hour or a standard class period of |
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evidence-based instruction regarding youth violence prevention |
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with information and materials on: |
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(A) methods for identifying observable warning |
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signs and signals of a person who may be at risk of self-harm or harm |
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to others; |
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(B) the importance of taking threats seriously |
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and seeking help; and |
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(C) steps a student may take to report dangerous, |
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violent, threatening, harmful, or potentially harmful activity. |
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(b) A school district may provide the instruction required |
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under this section: |
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(1) in person or remotely; and |
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(2) through a single instructional program that |
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provides training regarding a combination of suicide awareness and |
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prevention and youth violence prevention. |
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(b-1) Beginning not later than the 2026-2027 school year, |
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each school district shall provide to students the training |
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required under this section. This subsection expires September 1, |
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2027. |
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(c) The agency shall develop and post on the agency's |
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publicly available Internet website a list of evidence-based |
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training and materials, including, if available, training and |
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materials provided at no cost, for school districts to use in |
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providing the training required under this section. The agency |
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shall review and update the list not less than every three years. |
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(c-1) The agency shall develop and post on the agency's |
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publicly available Internet website the list required under |
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Subsection (c) not later than August 31, 2024. This subsection |
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expires September 1, 2025. |
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(d) To pay for the costs of implementing this section, the |
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agency may: |
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(1) apply for federal funding; and |
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(2) use any funds appropriated or otherwise available |
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for the purposes of school safety and violence prevention. |
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Sec. 38.355. SOCIAL INCLUSION TRAINING FOR STUDENTS. (a) |
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Each school year, a school district shall provide to students |
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enrolled in the district in kindergarten through grade 12 training |
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regarding social inclusion. The training must include at least one |
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hour or a standard class period of evidence-based instruction that |
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includes information and materials regarding: |
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(1) what social isolation looks like and how to |
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identify social isolation in others; |
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(2) the importance of taking social isolation |
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seriously and seeking help for other students; and |
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(3) strategies for being more socially inclusive in |
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the classroom and community and to establish connections with other |
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students. |
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(b) A school district may provide the instruction required |
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under this section in person or remotely. |
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(b-1) Beginning not later than the 2026-2027 school year, |
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each school district shall provide to students the training |
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required under this section. This subsection expires September 1, |
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2027. |
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(c) The agency shall develop and post on the agency's |
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publicly available Internet website a list of evidence-based |
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training and materials, including, if available, training and |
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materials provided at no cost, for school districts to use in |
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providing the training required under this section. The agency |
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shall review and update the list not less than every three years. |
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(c-1) The agency shall develop and post on the agency's |
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publicly available Internet website the list required under |
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Subsection (c) not later than August 31, 2024. This subsection |
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expires September 1, 2025. |
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(d) To pay for the costs of implementing this section, the |
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agency may: |
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(1) apply for federal funding; and |
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(2) use any funds appropriated or otherwise available |
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for the purposes of school safety and violence prevention. |
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Sec. 38.356. SELF-HARM AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION STUDENT |
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CLUB. (a) Each school district may establish at each district |
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campus a self-harm and violence prevention club. The club must: |
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(1) be student-led; |
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(2) be open to all students enrolled at the campus; and |
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(3) have at least one identified adult advisor. |
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(b) The club must: |
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(1) support awareness activities related to suicide |
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and violence prevention and social inclusion, including training |
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provided in accordance with Sections 38.354 and 38.355; and |
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(2) foster opportunities for student leadership |
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development. |
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(b-1) Beginning not later than the 2024-2025 school year, |
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each school district may establish at each campus the student club |
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required under Subsection (a). This subsection expires September 1, |
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2025. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |