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  89R8695 BCH-D     By: Lalani H.B. No. 2875       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the development and adoption by school districts of   local policies to address eloping behavior by students with autism   or other intellectual or developmental disabilities.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 29, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 29.031 to read as follows:           Sec.   29.031.     LOCAL POLICY ON ELOPING BEHAVIOR. (a) In this   section, "eloping" means the act of leaving a safe or supervised   area unexpectedly and without notice, often as a result of a sensory   trigger, anxiety, or an inability to communicate effectively.           (b)     A school district may adopt and implement a local policy   to address eloping by a student with autism or another intellectual   or developmental disability that emphasizes:                 (1)     behavioral support plans incorporated in the   individualized education program developed for the student under   Section 29.005 or the plan developed for the student under Section   504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 794);                 (2)     staff training to better understand the causes of   eloping, de-escalation techniques, and other effective safety   measures; and                 (3)     nonpunitive policies that ensure eloping   incidents are not treated as disciplinary infractions.           (c)     A policy adopted under this section may not treat   eloping as intentionally absconding or fleeing for an unlawful   purpose.           (d)     Subject to Subsection (c), a school district may   collaborate with law enforcement and emergency services agencies to   develop protocols for safely recovering students who elope.          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.