Bill Text: TX SB72 | 2021 | 87th Legislature 1st Special Session | Engrossed

Texas Senate Bill 72 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relating to requiring public schools to provide instruction and materials and adopt policies relating to the prevention of child abuse, family violence, and dating violence.

Sponsorship: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 7-1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2021-07-14 - Reported engrossed [SB72 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-SB72-Engrossed.html



	By: Huffman, et al.	S.B. No. 72


	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to requiring public schools to provide instruction and
	materials and adopt policies relating to the prevention of child
	abuse, family violence, and dating violence.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Christine Blubaugh
	Act.
	SECTION 2. Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by
	adding Subsections (u), (u-1), (u-2), and (u-3) to read as follows:
	(u) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules requiring
	students to receive instruction on the prevention of child abuse,
	family violence, and dating violence at least once in middle or
	junior high school and at least once in high school. The
	instruction must include information on:
	(1) the dating violence policy adopted by the
	student's school district under Section 37.0831;
	(2) the prevalence of dating violence and the
	recognition of abuse warning signs;
	(3) the procedures for reporting violence or abuse;
	and
	(4) educational materials or resources available to
	students under Section 37.0831(c).
	(u-1) Before each school year, a school district shall
	provide written notice as described by Subsection (u-2) to a parent
	of each student enrolled in the district who will receive:
	(1) the instruction required by Subsection (u); or
	(2) any other instruction required by state law
	relating to the prevention of child abuse, family violence, and
	dating violence.
	(u-2) The written notice required by Subsection (u-1) must
	include:
	(1) a statement that the district will provide
	instruction to the parent's student relating to the prevention of
	child abuse, family violence, and dating violence;
	(2) a description of:
	(A) the curriculum materials that will be used in
	providing instruction to the parent's student relating to the
	prevention of child abuse, family violence, and dating violence;
	and
	(B) the educational materials and resources
	described by Section 37.0831(c); and
	(3) a statement of the parent's right to:
	(A) review the materials and resources described
	by Subdivision (2); and
	(B) remove the student from instruction relating
	to the prevention of child abuse, family violence, and dating
	violence without subjecting the student to any disciplinary action,
	academic penalty, or other sanction imposed by the district or the
	student's school.
	(u-3) If a school district does not comply with the
	requirements of Subsections (u-1) and (u-2), a parent of a student
	enrolled in the district may file a complaint in accordance with the
	district's grievance procedure adopted as required by Section
	26.011.
	SECTION 3. The heading to Section 37.0831, Education Code,
	is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 37.0831. DATING VIOLENCE POLICIES; EDUCATIONAL
	MATERIALS AND RESOURCES.
	SECTION 4. Section 37.0831, Education Code, is amended by
	amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
	follows:
	(b) A dating violence policy must:
	(1) include:
	(A) a definition of dating violence that includes
	the intentional use of physical, sexual, verbal, or emotional abuse
	by a person to harm, threaten, intimidate, or control another
	person in a dating relationship, as defined by Section 71.0021,
	Family Code;
	(B) a clear statement that dating violence is not
	tolerated at school;
	(C) reporting procedures and guidelines for
	students who are victims of dating violence; and
	(D) information regarding the instruction on the
	prevention of dating violence required under Section 28.002(u); and
	(2) address safety planning, enforcement of
	protective orders, school-based alternatives to protective orders,
	training for teachers and administrators at each district campus
	that instructs students in grade six or higher, counseling for
	affected students, and awareness education for students and
	parents.
	(c) To the extent possible, a school district shall make
	available to students:
	(1) age-appropriate educational materials that
	include information on the dangers of dating violence; and
	(2) resources to students seeking help.
	SECTION 5. This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022
	school year.
	SECTION 6. 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 on the 91st day after the last day of the
	legislative session.