| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the notification of parents of students enrolled in |
|
|
public school regarding certain alleged criminal conduct by an |
|
|
employee. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 22, Education Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 22.088 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 22.088. NOTICE TO PARENTS REGARDING CERTAIN EMPLOYEE |
|
|
CRIMINAL CONDUCT. (a) Not later than the second school day after a |
|
|
school district or open-enrollment charter school becomes aware |
|
|
that an employee of the district or school has been charged with an |
|
|
offense described by Article 42.018, Code of Criminal Procedure, |
|
|
the district or school shall notify the parent or guardian of each |
|
|
student enrolled at the campus at which the employee is employed of |
|
|
the charged offense. The notice must include: |
|
|
(1) the employee's name and position; |
|
|
(2) whether the employee continues to be employed at |
|
|
the district or school; |
|
|
(3) the length of the employee's employment with the |
|
|
district or school; |
|
|
(4) the offense for which the employee is being |
|
|
charged; and |
|
|
(5) a statement that, under state and federal law, a |
|
|
person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. |
|
|
(b) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may |
|
|
include in the notice under Subsection (a) additional information |
|
|
regarding underlying facts or circumstances relating to the charged |
|
|
offense but may not disclose the identity of the alleged victim. |
|
|
(c) The commissioner by rule shall establish guidelines for |
|
|
providing notice under Subsection (a) during a period in which the |
|
|
school district or open-enrollment charter school is closed. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 |
|
|
school year. |
|
|
SECTION 3. 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. |