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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to instruction in online safety for minors provided in |
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public schools and by the Department of Public Safety. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c-6) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) Each school district that offers kindergarten through |
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grade 12 shall offer, as a required curriculum: |
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(1) a foundation curriculum that includes: |
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(A) English language arts; |
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(B) mathematics; |
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(C) science; and |
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(D) social studies, consisting of Texas, United |
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States, and world history, government, economics, with emphasis on |
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the free enterprise system and its benefits, and geography; and |
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(2) an enrichment curriculum that includes: |
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(A) to the extent possible, languages other than |
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English; |
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(B) health, with emphasis on: |
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(i) physical health, including the |
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importance of proper nutrition and exercise; |
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(ii) mental health, including instruction |
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about mental health conditions, substance abuse, skills to manage |
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emotions, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and |
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responsible decision-making; and |
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(iii) suicide prevention, including |
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recognizing suicide-related risk factors and warning signs; |
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(C) physical education; |
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(D) fine arts; |
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(E) career and technology education; |
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(F) technology applications; |
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(G) religious literature, including the Hebrew |
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Scriptures (Old Testament) and New Testament, and its impact on |
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history and literature; [and] |
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(H) personal financial literacy; and |
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(I) online safety, including instruction about |
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the potential dangers of using Internet websites, social media |
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applications, and applications that use artificial intelligence. |
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(c-6) In adopting the essential knowledge and skills for the |
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online safety curriculum required under Subsection (a)(2)(I), the |
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State Board of Education shall adopt essential knowledge and skills |
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that develop each student's understanding of: |
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(1) sharing information on social media; |
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(2) maintaining personal security; |
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(3) preventing oversharing of personal information; |
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(4) identifying cyberbullying, predatory behavior, |
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and human trafficking on the Internet; |
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(5) the permanence of information shared online; |
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(6) how to report suspicious activity encountered on |
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the Internet to appropriate authorities; and |
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(7) the topics described by Sections 37.218(b)(1), |
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(2), and (3). |
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SECTION 2. Section 411.045(b), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) The bureau of training shall: |
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(1) establish and operate schools for training |
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department personnel in their duties and functions; |
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(2) establish and operate schools for training county |
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and municipal police officers who are selected to attend the |
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schools by the authorities of the law enforcement agencies that |
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employ them; and |
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(3) establish and carry out a comprehensive plan for |
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the education of citizens of this state in matters of public safety |
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and crime prevention and detection, including the education of |
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citizens under the age of 18 concerning online safety when using |
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Internet websites, social media applications, and applications |
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that use artificial intelligence. |
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SECTION 3. Section 28.002, Education Code, as amended by |
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this Act, applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. |
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SECTION 4. 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. |