89R4281 AND-D

By: Allen H.B. No. 1415

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to corporal punishment in public schools.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 37, Education Code, is amended by adding Subchapter Z to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER Z. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

RELATING TO DISCIPLINE

Sec. 37.901. CORPORAL PUNISHMENT. (a) In this section, "corporal punishment" includes hitting, spanking, paddling, or deliberately inflicting physical pain by any means on the whole or any part of a student's body as a penalty or punishment for the student's behavior on or off campus.

(b) A school district employee or a volunteer or independent contractor of a district may not administer corporal punishment or cause corporal punishment to be administered to a student. This subsection does not apply to corporal punishment administered off campus by a parent to the parent's child.

(c) A school district employee or a volunteer or independent contractor of a district may use reasonable and necessary restraint, as defined by Section 37.0021.

(d) Section 9.62, Penal Code, and Section 22.0511(a) of this code do not apply to an action of a school district employee or a volunteer or independent contractor of a district that violates Subsection (b).

SECTION 2. Section 37.0023, Education Code, is transferred to Subchapter Z, Chapter 37, Education Code, as added by this Act, redesignated as Section 37.902, Education Code, and amended to read as follows:

Sec. 37.902 [37.0023]. PROHIBITED AVERSIVE TECHNIQUES. (a) In this section, "aversive technique" means a technique or intervention that is intended to reduce the likelihood of a behavior reoccurring by intentionally inflicting on a student significant physical or emotional discomfort or pain. The term includes a technique or intervention that:

(1) is designed to or likely to cause physical pain[, other than an intervention or technique permitted under Section 37.0011];

(2) [notwithstanding Section 37.0011,] is designed to or likely to cause physical pain through the use of electric shock or any procedure that involves the use of pressure points or joint locks;

(3) involves the directed release of a noxious, toxic, or otherwise unpleasant spray, mist, or substance near the student's face;

(4) denies adequate sleep, air, food, water, shelter, bedding, physical comfort, supervision, or access to a restroom facility;

(5) ridicules or demeans the student in a manner that adversely affects or endangers the learning or mental health of the student or constitutes verbal abuse;

(6) employs a device, material, or object that simultaneously immobilizes all four extremities, including any procedure that results in such immobilization known as prone or supine floor restraint;

(7) impairs the student's breathing, including any procedure that involves:

(A) applying pressure to the student's torso or neck; or

(B) obstructing the student's airway, including placing an object in, on, or over the student's mouth or nose or placing a bag, cover, or mask over the student's face;

(8) restricts the student's circulation;

(9) secures the student to a stationary object while the student is in a sitting or standing position;

(10) inhibits, reduces, or hinders the student's ability to communicate;

(11) involves the use of a chemical restraint;

(12) constitutes a use of timeout that precludes the student from being able to be involved in and progress appropriately in the required curriculum and, if applicable, toward the annual goals included in the student's individualized education program, including isolating the student by the use of physical barriers; or

(13) except as provided by Subsection (c), deprives the student of the use of one or more of the student's senses.

(b) A school district or school district employee or volunteer or an independent contractor of a school district may not apply an aversive technique, or by authorization, order, or consent, cause an aversive technique to be applied, to a student.

(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(13), an aversive technique described by Subsection (a)(13) may be used if the technique is executed in a manner that:

(1) does not cause the student discomfort or pain; or

(2) complies with the student's individualized education program or behavior intervention plan.

(d) Nothing in this section may be construed to prohibit a teacher from removing a student from class under Section 37.002.

(e) In adopting procedures under this section, the commissioner shall provide guidance to school district employees, volunteers, and independent contractors of school districts in avoiding a violation of Subsection (b).

SECTION 3. Section 22.0512(c), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c) This section does not prohibit a school district from[:

[(1) enforcing a policy relating to corporal punishment; or

[(2) notwithstanding Subsection (a),] bringing a disciplinary proceeding against a professional employee of the district who violates the prohibition on [district policy relating to] corporal punishment under Section 37.901.

SECTION 4. Section 25.007(b), Education Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b) In recognition of the challenges faced by students who are homeless or in substitute care, the agency shall assist the transition of students who are homeless or in substitute care from one school to another by:

(1) ensuring that school records for a student who is homeless or in substitute care are transferred to the student's new school not later than the 10th working day after the date the student begins enrollment at the school;

(2) developing systems to ease transition of a student who is homeless or in substitute care during the first two weeks of enrollment at a new school;

(3) developing procedures for awarding credit, including partial credit if appropriate, for course work, including electives, completed by a student who is homeless or in substitute care while enrolled at another school;

(4) developing procedures to ensure that a new school relies on decisions made by the previous school regarding placement in courses or educational programs of a student who is homeless or in substitute care and places the student in comparable courses or educational programs at the new school, if those courses or programs are available;

(5) promoting practices that facilitate access by a student who is homeless or in substitute care to extracurricular programs, summer programs, credit transfer services, electronic courses provided under Chapter 30A, and after-school tutoring programs at nominal or no cost;

(6) establishing procedures to lessen the adverse impact of the movement of a student who is homeless or in substitute care to a new school;

(7) entering into a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Family and Protective Services regarding the exchange of information as appropriate to facilitate the transition of students in substitute care from one school to another;

(8) encouraging school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to provide services for a student who is homeless or in substitute care in transition when applying for admission to postsecondary study and when seeking sources of funding for postsecondary study;

(9) requiring school districts, campuses, and open-enrollment charter schools to accept a referral for special education services made for a student who is homeless or in substitute care by a school previously attended by the student, and to provide comparable services to the student during the referral process or until the new school develops an individualized education program for the student;

(10) requiring school districts, campuses, and open-enrollment charter schools to provide notice to the child's educational decision-maker and caseworker regarding events that may significantly impact the education of a child, including:

(A) requests or referrals for an evaluation under Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 794), or special education under Subchapter A, Chapter 29 [Section 29.003];

(B) admission, review, and dismissal committee meetings;

(C) manifestation determination reviews required by Section 37.004(b);

(D) any disciplinary actions under Chapter 37 for which parental notice is required;

(E) citations issued for Class C misdemeanor offenses on school property or at school-sponsored activities;

(F) reports of restraint and seclusion required by Section 37.0021; and

(G) [use of corporal punishment as provided by Section 37.0011; and

[(H)] appointment of a surrogate parent for the child under Section 29.0151;

(11) developing procedures for allowing a student who is homeless or in substitute care who was previously enrolled in a course required for graduation the opportunity, to the extent practicable, to complete the course, at no cost to the student, before the beginning of the next school year;

(12) ensuring that a student who is homeless or in substitute care who is not likely to receive a high school diploma before the fifth school year following the student's enrollment in grade nine, as determined by the district, has the student's course credit accrual and personal graduation plan reviewed;

(13) ensuring that a student in substitute care who is in grade 11 or 12 be provided information regarding tuition and fee exemptions under Section 54.366 for dual-credit or other courses provided by a public institution of higher education for which a high school student may earn joint high school and college credit;

(14) designating at least one agency employee to act as a liaison officer regarding educational issues related to students in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services; and

(15) providing other assistance as identified by the agency.

SECTION 5. Section 37.0011, Education Code, is repealed.

SECTION 6. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.

SECTION 7. 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, 2025.