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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to cyber safety instruction for public school students. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The legislature finds that: |
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(1) digital technology has become an essential |
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component of modern education, communication, employment, and |
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daily life; |
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(2) public school students frequently face cyber |
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security threats, including phishing scams, identity theft, |
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cyberbullying, online exploitation, privacy risks, misinformation, |
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and deception enabled by artificial intelligence technology; |
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(3) cyber safety education promotes responsible |
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digital citizenship, protects student well-being, and strengthens |
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workforce readiness; and |
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(4) public schools should maintain flexibility in |
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selecting instructional methods that best meet local educational |
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needs. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 28.0175 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28.0175. INSTRUCTION ON CYBER SAFETY. (a) Each school |
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district and open-enrollment charter school shall annually provide |
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age-appropriate and grade-appropriate instruction relating to |
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cyber safety for students enrolled in each grade level in the |
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district or school. The instruction may include information on: |
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(1) password creation, multi-factor authentication, |
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and account security; |
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(2) methods of protecting personal information while |
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online and otherwise preventing identify theft; |
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(3) safe Internet browsing; |
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(4) methods for recognizing and avoiding phishing and |
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other online fraud; |
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(5) preventing and reporting cyberbullying, as |
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defined by Section 37.0832; |
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(6) responsible use of social media, artificial |
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intelligence technology, and online methods of communication; |
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(7) digital citizenship, as defined by Section 28.002; |
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(8) the recognition of online misinformation, |
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including digital media that is manipulated, edited, or otherwise |
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changed; |
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(9) safe online video game practices; |
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(10) digital footprints and online reputation; and |
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(11) the procedures for reporting suspected cyber |
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threats or online safety concerns. |
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(b) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may |
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provide the instruction as part of: |
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(1) an existing course in the required or enrichment |
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curriculum; |
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(2) an existing homeroom or advisory period; |
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(3) a school assembly or presentation; |
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(4) an online instructional module; or |
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(5) another method of instruction determined |
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appropriate by the district or school. |
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(c) The agency shall develop model instructional materials, |
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professional development materials, and lesson plans that a school |
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district or open-enrollment charter school may use to provide the |
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instruction required under Subsection (a). The model materials and |
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plans developed under this subsection must: |
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(1) be appropriate for the age and grade level for |
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which the resources will be used; |
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(2) reflect current best practices regarding cyber |
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safety; |
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(3) be updated periodically to address emerging |
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technologies and cyber threats; and |
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(4) be made available on the agency's Internet website |
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at no cost to each district and school. |
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(d) The agency shall make available to each school district |
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and open-enrollment charter school cyber safety educational |
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materials that the district or school may provide to the parent of |
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or person standing in parental relation to each student enrolled in |
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the district or school to promote safe technology use in the |
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student's home. |
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(e) In implementing the instruction required under |
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Subsection (a), a school district or open-enrollment charter |
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school: |
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(1) shall comply with all applicable federal and state |
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student privacy laws; and |
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(2) is not required to use a specific software, |
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application, or artificial intelligence technology. |
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SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Texas Education Agency shall develop and make |
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available the model instructional materials, professional |
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development materials, and lesson plans as required under Section |
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28.0175(c), Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2027-2028 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 5. 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, 2027. |