HB121 - Relating to measures for ensuring public school safety, including the commissioning of peace officers by the Texas Education Agency, the composition of the board of directors of the Texas School Safety Center, and public school safety and security requirements and resources.

      H.B. No. 121         AN ACT   relating to measures for ensuring public school safety, including   the commissioning of peace officers by the Texas Education Agency,   the composition of the board of directors of the Texas School Safety   Center, and public school safety and security requirements and   resources.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:   SECTION 1.  Article 2A.001, Code of Criminal Procedure, is   amended to conform to Section 2, Chapter 624 (H.B. 4372), Section 1,   Chapter 870 (H.B. 3981), Section 1, Chapter 950 (S.B. 1727), and   Section 1, Chapter 984 (S.B. 2612), Acts of the 88th Legislature,   Regular Session, 2023, and is further amended to read as follows:          Art. 2A.001.  PEACE OFFICERS GENERALLY.  The following are   peace officers:                (1)  a sheriff, a sheriff's deputy, or a reserve deputy   sheriff who holds a permanent peace officer license issued under   Chapter 1701, Occupations Code;                (2)  a constable, a deputy constable, or a reserve   deputy constable who holds a permanent peace officer license issued   under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code;                (3)  a marshal or police officer of a municipality or a   reserve municipal police officer who holds a permanent peace   officer license issued under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code;                (4)  a ranger, officer, or member of the reserve   officer corps commissioned by the Public Safety Commission and the   director of the Department of Public Safety;                (5)  an investigator of a district attorney's, criminal   district attorney's, or county attorney's office;                (6)  a law enforcement agent of the Texas Alcoholic   Beverage Commission;                (7)  a member of an arson investigating unit   commissioned by a municipality, a county, or the state;                (8)  an officer commissioned under Section 37.081 or   37.0818 , Education Code, or Subchapter E, Chapter 51, Education   Code;                (9)  an officer commissioned by the Texas Facilities   Commission;                (10)  a law enforcement officer commissioned by the   Parks and Wildlife Commission;                (11)  an officer commissioned under Chapter 23,   Transportation Code;                (12)  a municipal park and recreational patrol officer   or security officer;                (13)  a security officer or investigator commissioned   as a peace officer by the comptroller;                (14)  an officer commissioned by a water control and   improvement district under Section 49.216, Water Code;                (15)  an officer commissioned by a board of trustees   under Chapter 54, Transportation Code;                (16)  an investigator commissioned by the Texas Medical   Board;                (17)  an officer commissioned by:                      (A)  the board of managers of the Dallas County   Hospital District, the Tarrant County Hospital District, the Bexar   County Hospital District, or the El Paso County Hospital District   under Section 281.057, Health and Safety Code;                      (B)  the board of directors of the Ector County   Hospital District under Section 1024.117, Special District Local   Laws Code;                      (C)  the board of directors of the Midland County   Hospital District of Midland County, Texas, under Section 1061.121,   Special District Local Laws Code; or                      (D)  the board of hospital managers of the Lubbock   County Hospital District of Lubbock County, Texas, under Section   1053.113, Special District Local Laws Code;                (18)  a county park ranger commissioned under   Subchapter E, Chapter 351, Local Government Code;                (19)  an investigator employed by the Texas Racing   Commission;                (20)  an officer commissioned under Chapter 554,   Occupations Code;                (21)  an officer commissioned by the governing body of   a metropolitan rapid transit authority under Section 451.108,   Transportation Code, or a regional transportation authority under   Section 452.110, Transportation Code;                (22)  an investigator commissioned by the attorney   general under Section 402.009, Government Code;                (23)  a security officer or investigator commissioned   as a peace officer under Chapter 466, Government Code;                (24)  an officer appointed by an appellate court under   Subchapter F, Chapter 53, Government Code;                (25)  an officer commissioned by the state fire marshal   under Chapter 417, Government Code;                (26)  an investigator commissioned by the commissioner   of insurance under Section 701.104, Insurance Code;                (27)  an officer appointed by the inspector general of   [ apprehension specialist or inspector general commissioned by ] the   Texas Juvenile Justice Department [ as an officer ] under Section   242.102 [ or 243.052 ], Human Resources Code;                (28)  an officer appointed by the inspector general of   the Texas Department of Criminal Justice under Section 493.019,   Government Code;                (29)  an investigator commissioned by the Texas   Commission on Law Enforcement under Section 1701.160, Occupations   Code;                (30)  a fire marshal or any related officer, inspector,   or investigator commissioned by a county under Subchapter B,   Chapter 352, Local Government Code;                (31)  a fire marshal or any officer, inspector, or   investigator commissioned by an emergency services district under   Chapter 775, Health and Safety Code;                (32)   a fire marshal or any officer, inspector, or   investigator of a municipality who holds a permanent peace officer   license issued under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code;                 (33)   an officer commissioned by the State Board of   Dental Examiners under Section 254.013, Occupations Code, subject   to the limitations imposed by that section; [ and ]                 (34)  [ (33) ]  an Alamo complex ranger commissioned by   the General Land Office under Section 31.0515, Natural Resources   Code, subject to the limitations imposed by that section; and                 (35)     an inspector employed by the Texas Education   Agency under Section 37.1031, Education Code, subject to the   limitations imposed by that section  [ investigator commissioned by   the Texas Juvenile Justice Department as an officer under Section   221.011, Human Resources Code ].          SECTION 2.  Section 37.0814, Education Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (d-1) to read as   follows:          (d)  The board of trustees of a school district that claims a   good cause exception under Subsection (c) must develop an   alternative standard with which the district is able to comply,   which may include providing a person to act as a security officer   who is:                (1)  a school marshal; or                (2)  a school district employee or a person with whom   the district contracts who:                      (A)   either:                             (i)   has completed school safety training   provided by a qualified handgun instructor certified in school   safety under Section 411.1901, Government Code ; or                             (ii)     not later than the 90th day after the   date on which the employee or person begins duties as a security   officer, completes training deemed appropriate by the district, in   consultation with the district's police department, or, if the   district does not have a police department, a local law enforcement   agency, in:                                   (a)     active shooter response, which   must be provided by an instructor certified by the Advanced Law   Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center at Texas State   University--San Marcos;                                   (b)     school safety and emergency   management;                                   (c)  crisis intervention;                                   (d)  incident command;                                   (e)  first aid administration;                                   (f)  mental health; and                                   (g)     qualifications relating to the   carrying or use of a firearm ; and                      (B)  carries a handgun on school premises in   accordance with written regulations or written authorization of the   district under Section 46.03(a)(1)(A), Penal Code.           (d-1)     A good cause exception claimed by the board of   trustees of a school district under Subsection (c) expires on the   first anniversary of the date the exception is claimed. On the   expiration of the exception, the board must reevaluate whether the   board is able to comply with this section and, if not, renew:                 (1)     the claim for an exception under Subsection (c);   and                   (2) &#xA0 [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]