HB1992 - Relating to the establishment of the behaviorally at-risk student grant program to provide social and cognitive skills training to certain public school students.

      By: Bowers H.B. No. 1992       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of the behaviorally at-risk student   grant program to provide social and cognitive skills training to   certain public school students.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 37, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 37.029 to read as follows:           Sec.   37.029.     BEHAVIORALLY AT-RISK STUDENT GRANT PROGRAM.   (a)     In this section, "behaviorally at-risk student" means a   student in grades 7 through 12 who may have experienced an adverse   childhood experience or other early childhood trauma and has been   suspended, expelled, removed from class, or subject to another   disciplinary action at least one time during the school year for:                 (1)     engaging in abusive, threatening, or intimidating   behavior, including against a teacher;                 (2)     engaging in conduct that constitutes assault or   other aggressive behavior; or                 (3)     possessing a prohibited weapon or controlled   substance.           (b)     The commissioner shall establish and administer a   program to award grants to school districts and open-enrollment   charter schools at which a threshold number, as determined by   commissioner rule, of behaviorally at-risk students are enrolled.           (c)     A school district or open-enrollment charter school may   use funds awarded under the grant program only to implement a social   and cognitive skills training program for behaviorally at-risk   students that:                 (1)     is evidence-based and supported by research   conducted by a reputable research organization;                 (2)     focuses on teaching students skills for conflict   resolution, anger management, and peer mediation and other   necessary social and emotional skills;                 (3)  is provided to students on a voluntary basis;                 (4)     is provided in a manner that will not remove a   participating student from instruction in the required curriculum   under Section 28.002 for the grade level in which the student is   enrolled;                 (5)     is provided to students in a group of between four   and eight students at least twice per week during the first   semester a student participates in the program and informally   during the second semester; and                 (6)     engages closely with participating students and   the parents of or persons standing in parental relation to the   student.           (d)     A principal or other appropriate administrator of a   campus in a school district or open-enrollment charter school   awarded a grant under this section shall identify students who are   eligible to participate in a program provided under Subsection (c).     The principal or administrator shall notify the parent of or person   standing in parental relation to a student identified under this   subsection of the student's eligibility to participate in the   program and request permission for the student's participation.           (e)     A school district or open-enrollment charter school may   not allow a student to participate in a program provided under   Subsection (c) unless the parent of or person standing in parental   relation to the student has consented to the student's   participation.           (f)     Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter,   a school district or open-enrollment charter school may not:                 (1)     place a student participating in a program   provided under Subsection (c) in a disciplinary alternative   education program or a juvenile justice alternative education   program; or                 (2)     use funds awarded under the grant program for   costs associated with:                       (A)     in-school suspension, a disciplinary   alternative education program, a juvenile justice alternative   education program, or another discipline management program   offered under this chapter other than a program provided under   Subsection (c); or                       (B)     the provision of peace officers or security   personnel, as described by Section 37.081, for the district or   school.           (g)     In providing a program under Subsection (c), a school   district or open-enrollment charter school may:                 (1)  employ educators or other qualified personnel; or                 (2)     contract with a nonprofit organization that   employs   student advisors who:                       (A)     hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited   institution of higher education; and                       (B)     work with not more than 100 behaviorally   at-risk students during each semester.           (h)     The agency shall develop and provide a comprehensive   training program designed to instruct educators and other   individuals involved in providing a program under Subsection (c)   regarding program requirements and best practices.   A school   district or open-enrollment charter school may not permit a person   to be involved in providing a program under Subsection (c) unless   the person has attended a training program developed and provided   under this subsection. The agency may contract with a nonprofit   organization to provide the training program required by this     subsection.           (i)     A school district or   open-enrollment charter school   that has been awarded a grant under this section shall annually   report to the agency data relating to the progress of students   participating in a program under Subsection (c) compared to the   progress of behaviorally at-risk students who did not participate   in a program under Subsection (c).           (j)     The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary to   implement this section, including rules that:                 (1)     establish eligibility criteria for a school   district or   open-enrollment charter school to receive a grant under   this section;                 (2)     provide application procedures and guidelines for   school districts and open-enrollment charter schools; and                 (3)     ensure compliance with the reporting requirements   for school districts and open-enrollment charter schools awarded   grants under this section.          SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026   school year.          SECTION 3.  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 September 1, 2025.