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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a parent's right to be notified by a school district |
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concerning acts of self-harm by the parent's child. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 26, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 26.0083 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 26.0083. PARENTAL NOTIFICATION CONCERNING ACTS OF |
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SELF-HARM BY PARENT'S CHILD. (a) In this section, "self-harm" |
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includes: |
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(1) attempted suicide; |
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(2) the expression of suicidal ideation; |
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(3) the intentional ingestion of toxins; |
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(4) hitting, cutting, or burning oneself, or engaging |
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in other acts of self-mutilation; |
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(5) engaging in high-risk sexual behavior; |
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(6) altering one's biological sex; |
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(7) abusing drugs or alcohol; and |
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(8) engaging in any other behavior that causes |
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self-injury. |
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(b) A school district shall immediately notify a parent if |
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the parent's child engages in or expresses a desire to engage in an |
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act of self-harm, or otherwise indicates by words or behavior a |
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likelihood of engaging in an act of self-harm, including words or |
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behavior expressing gender dysphoria or other distress relating to |
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the child's biological sex. |
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(c) An employee of a school district who witnesses a child |
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engage in an act, expression, or behavior described by Subsection |
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(b) shall immediately inform an appropriate district |
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administrator. |
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(d) A school district employee who fails to comply with |
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Subsection (c) may be subject to, as applicable: |
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(1) discharge or suspension without pay under Section |
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21.104 or 21.156; or |
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(2) termination or suspension under Section 21.211. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |