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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to safety standards for public school instructional |
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facility doors. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 37, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 37.1191 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 37.1191. SAFETY STANDARDS FOR INSTRUCTIONAL FACILITY |
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DOORS. (a) The board of trustees of a school district shall adopt a |
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policy requiring each door of an instructional facility through |
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which a person may enter a classroom to: |
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(1) remain locked for any period during which a |
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student is present in the classroom; and |
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(2) be equipped with a locking mechanism that allows |
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for free and immediate egress without requiring an unlocking |
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action. |
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(b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a)(2), if a door described |
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by Subsection (a) requires an unlocking action for egress, the door |
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may not be locked while a student is present in the classroom. |
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(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), any exterior door to an |
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instructional facility, including a portable building, must remain |
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closed and locked at all times. |
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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. |