HB2056 - Relating to the designation of a public school health officer and the school health and safety allotment under the Foundation School Program.

  89R6030 TSS-D     By: Howard H.B. No. 2056       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the designation of a public school health officer and   the school health and safety allotment under the Foundation School   Program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 38.047 to read as follows:           Sec.   38.047.     SCHOOL HEALTH OFFICER. (a)   The principal of   each school district campus shall designate an employee of the   campus as the campus's school health officer.           (b)     The school health officer at a school district campus   may:                 (1)     manage and monitor school health initiatives and   the implementation of health requirements at the campus; and                 (2)     notwithstanding Section 22.052, administer   medication to students enrolled at the campus in compliance with   the rules adopted under Subsection (c) and other law.           (c)     Notwithstanding any other law, the executive   commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission shall   adopt rules regarding the administration of medication to a student   by a school health officer under this section, including rules   providing a list of medications that a school health officer may   administer.          SECTION 2.  The heading to Section 48.115, Education Code,   is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 48.115.  SCHOOL HEALTH AND SAFETY ALLOTMENT.          SECTION 3.  Section 48.115(b), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  Funds allocated under this section must be used to   improve school district student health and school safety and   security, including costs associated with:                (1)  securing school facilities in accordance with the   requirements of Section 37.351, including:                      (A)  improvements to school infrastructure;                      (B)  the use or installation of perimeter security   fencing conducive to a public school learning environment or   physical barriers, which may not include razor wire;                      (C)  exterior door and window safety and security   upgrades, including exterior door numbering and locking systems and   security film that provides resistance to a forced entry; and                      (D)  the purchase and maintenance of:                            (i)  security cameras and, if the district   has already installed security cameras, other security equipment,   including video surveillance as provided by Section 29.022; and                            (ii)  technology, including communications   systems or devices, such as silent panic alert devices, two-way   radios, or wireless Internet booster equipment, that facilitates   communication and information sharing between students, school   personnel, and first responders in an emergency;                (2)  providing security for the district, including:                      (A)  employing school district peace officers,   private security officers, and school marshals; and                      (B)  collaborating with local law enforcement   agencies, such as entering into a memorandum of understanding for   the assignment of school resource officers to schools in the   district;                (3)  school safety and security measures, including:                      (A)  active shooter and emergency response   training;                      (B)  prevention and treatment programs relating   to addressing adverse childhood experiences; and                      (C)  the prevention, identification, and   management of emergencies and threats, using evidence-based,   effective prevention practices and including:                            (i)  providing licensed counselors, social   workers, chaplains, and individuals trained in restorative   discipline and restorative justice practices;                            (ii)  providing mental health personnel and   support, including chaplains;                            (iii)  providing behavioral health   services, including services provided by chaplains;                            (iv)  establishing threat reporting   systems; and                            (v)  developing and implementing programs   focused on restorative justice practices, culturally relevant   instruction, and providing mental health support, including   support provided by chaplains;                (4)  providing programs related to suicide prevention,   intervention, and postvention, including programs provided by   chaplains; [ and ]                (5)  employing a school safety director and other   personnel to manage and monitor school safety initiatives and the   implementation of school safety requirements for the district ; and                 (6)     providing school health officers for each district   campus as required by Section 38.047 .          SECTION 4.  Section 37.108(b-1), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (b-1)  In a school district's safety and security audit   required under Subsection (b), the district must certify that the   district used the funds provided to the district through the school   health and safety allotment under Section 48.115 only for the   purposes provided by that section.          SECTION 5.  Section 37.117(c), Education Code, as added by   Chapter 1 (S.B. 838), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular   Session, 2023, is amended to read as follows:          (c)  To comply with this section, a school district or   open-enrollment charter school may:                (1)  use funds provided to the district or school   through the school health and safety allotment under Section 48.115   or other available funds; and                (2)  use the district's or school's customary   procurement process.          SECTION 6.  Section 37.354(a), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  The commissioner may authorize a school district to use   money provided to the district for the purpose of improving school   safety and security, including the school health and safety   allotment under Section 48.115 or any other funding or grant money   available to the district for that purpose, to comply with the   requirements of this subchapter.          SECTION 7.  As soon as practicable after the effective date   of this Act, the executive commissioner of the Health and Human   Services Commission shall adopt the rules regarding the   administration of medication to a student by a school health   officer required by Section 38.047, Education Code, as added by   this Act.          SECTION 8.  It is the intent of the 89th Legislature, Regular   Session, 2025, that the amendments made by this Act be harmonized   with another Act of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025,   relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted   codes.          SECTION 9.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.