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AN ACT
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relating to public school policy and training for public school |
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employees addressing the prevention of sexual abuse, sex |
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trafficking, and other maltreatment of certain children. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 38.0041(a), (a-1), (b), and (c), |
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Education Code, as amended by Chapter 762 (S.B. 2039), Acts of the |
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85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017, are reenacted and amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) Each school district and open-enrollment charter school |
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shall adopt and implement a policy addressing sexual abuse, sex |
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trafficking, and other maltreatment of children, to be included in |
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the district improvement plan under Section 11.252 and any |
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informational handbook provided to students and parents. |
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(a-1) A school district may collaborate with local law |
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enforcement and outside consultants with expertise in the |
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prevention of sexual abuse and sex trafficking to create the policy |
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required under Subsection (a), and to create a referral protocol |
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for high-risk students. |
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(b) A policy required by this section must address: |
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(1) methods for increasing staff, student, and parent |
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awareness of issues regarding sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and |
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other maltreatment of children, including prevention techniques |
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and knowledge of likely warning signs indicating that a child may be |
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a victim of sexual abuse, sex trafficking, or other maltreatment, |
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using resources developed by the agency or the commissioner |
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regarding those issues, including resources developed by the agency |
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under Section 38.004 [or by the commissioner under Section 28.017]; |
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(2) actions that a child who is a victim of sexual |
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abuse, sex trafficking, or other maltreatment should take to obtain |
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assistance and intervention; and |
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(3) available counseling options for students |
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affected by sexual abuse, sex trafficking, or other maltreatment. |
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(c) The methods under Subsection (b)(1) for increasing |
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awareness of issues regarding sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and |
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other maltreatment of children must include training, as provided |
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by this subsection, concerning prevention techniques for and |
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recognition of sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and all other |
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maltreatment of children, including the sexual abuse, sex |
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trafficking, and other maltreatment of children with significant |
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cognitive disabilities. The training: |
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(1) must be provided, as part of a new employee |
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orientation, to all new school district and open-enrollment charter |
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school employees and to existing district and open-enrollment |
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charter school employees on a schedule adopted by the agency by rule |
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until all district and open-enrollment charter school employees |
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have taken the training; and |
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(2) must include training concerning: |
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(A) factors indicating a child is at risk for |
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sexual abuse, sex trafficking, or other maltreatment; |
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(B) likely warning signs indicating a child may |
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be a victim of sexual abuse, sex trafficking, or other |
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maltreatment; |
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(C) internal procedures for seeking assistance |
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for a child who is at risk for sexual abuse, sex trafficking, or |
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other maltreatment, including referral to a school counselor, a |
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social worker, or another mental health professional; |
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(D) techniques for reducing a child's risk of |
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sexual abuse, sex trafficking, or other maltreatment; and |
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(E) community organizations that have relevant |
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existing research-based programs that are able to provide training |
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or other education for school district or open-enrollment charter |
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school staff members, students, and parents. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2019-2020 |
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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, 2019. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 111 was passed by the House on March |
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20, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 148, Nays 0, 1 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 111 was passed by the Senate on May |
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16, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |