By: Rose H.B. No. 5615

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of a grant program for preventing violence and substance abuse in public schools.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 38.029 to read as follows:

Sec. 38.029. VIOLENCE AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION GRANT PROGRAM. (a) From money appropriated or otherwise available for the purpose, the agency shall establish and administer a grant program to award grants to eligible school districts to implement a violence and substance abuse prevention program that includes opioid abuse prevention.

(b) A school district is eligible to receive a grant under the grant program if the district demonstrates a need for violence and substance abuse prevention initiatives based on:

(1) incidents of violence or issues related to substance abuse, including opioid and alcohol abuse;

(2) high rates of suspensions or expulsions from school or law enforcement interactions related to violence or controlled substances; and

(3) a demonstrated desire to implement proactive, non-punitive measures that address both violence and the opioid epidemic.

(c) An eligible school district may submit to the agency an application to receive a grant under the grant program that includes:

(1) an assessment of the district's needs relating to violence and substance abuse issues;

(2) a plan for implementing a violence interrupters program that may include a partnership with a community-based organization, and will train staff, mediate conflicts, mentor students, and intervene in situations of potential violence or substance abuse before the situations escalate, including proposals regarding staffing, training, and community partnerships; and

(3) a budget outlining the use of grant money.

(d) The amount of a grant awarded under the grant program to a school district must be based on:

(1) the number of students enrolled in the district;

(2) the district's need for the grant, based on incidents of violence and substance abuse; and

(3) the quality and comprehensiveness of the district's proposed violence interrupters program described by Subsection (c)(2), including the integration of substance abuse prevention efforts.

(e) A school district that receives a grant under the grant program may partner with a community-based organization to use the money to implement a violence and substance abuse prevention program described by Subsection (a), including by:

(1) hiring and training employees to prevent violence and substance abuse by specializing in de-escalation, conflict mediation, and violence prevention;

(2) hiring and training substance abuse counselors;

(3) implementing support services for students to prevent violence and substance abuse, including drug education, counseling, conflict mediation, and mentoring;

(4) providing resources focused on preventing violence and substance abuse, such as educational materials, workshops, and community outreach programs; and

(5) evaluating and reporting on the outcomes and effectiveness of the program in preventing violence and substance abuse.

(f) A school district that receives a grant under the grant program may partner with a community-based organization to develop and execute a violence interrupter and substance abuse program for use by the school district to educate students on a violence interruption and substance abuse prevention techniques described by Subsection (c)(2). The program must:

(1) include:

(A) substance abuse prevention and intervention strategies;

(B) participation in violence abatement by directly interacting with students; and

(C) de-escalation techniques, conflict resolution, trauma-informed care, substance abuse intervention, and restorative justice practices; and

(2) be offered on a continuous basis to ensure staff and student effectiveness in addressing violence and substance abuse; and

(3) be designed to:

(A) meet specific campus and community needs identified by school districts and community-based organizations; and

(B) address external, community-based factors that affect school safety.

(g) A school district that receives a grant under the grant program shall submit an annual report to the agency regarding:

(1) the use of grant money received under the grant program; and

(2) the outcomes and effectiveness of the measures to prevent violence and substance abuse implemented with the grant, including:

(A) the number of violence and substance abuse incidents intervened; and

(B) data on:

(i) reductions in violence and substance abuse;

(ii) improvements in attendance and academic performance; and

(iii) student, staff, and community feedback on safety and substance abuse prevention.

(h) The agency shall annually conduct a statewide evaluation of the effectiveness of violence interrupters programs described by Subsection (c)(2) in addressing violence and substance abuse and submit to the legislature a report on the evaluation. The evaluation must include a cost-benefit analysis regarding the grant program and any recommendations for improvements to or expansions of the grant program.

(i) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to administer the grant program.

(j) This section expires September 1, 2030.

SECTION 2. 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.