HB4193 - Relating to measures for ensuring safety and security in public schools, including certain training for school district personnel and parents of certain students.

  89R5376 PRL-D     By: González of El Paso H.B. No. 4193       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to measures for ensuring safety and security in public   schools, including certain training for school district personnel   and parents of certain students.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 21.044(a-1), Education Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a-1)  Any training requirements for a certificate specified   under Subsection (a) must require that the person demonstrate:                (1)  basic knowledge of:                      (A)  each disability category under the   Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400   et seq.) and how each category can affect student learning and   development; and                      (B)  conditions that may be considered a   disability under Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C.   Section 794), and how a condition covered by that section can affect   student learning and development;                (2)  competence in the use of proactive instructional   planning techniques that:                      (A)  provide flexibility in the ways:                            (i)  information is presented;                            (ii)  students respond or demonstrate   knowledge and skills; and                            (iii)  students are engaged;                      (B)  reduce barriers in instruction;                      (C)  provide appropriate accommodations,   supports, and challenges; and                      (D)  maintain high achievement expectations for   all students, including students with disabilities and students of   limited English proficiency;                (3)  competence in the use of evidence-based inclusive   instructional practices, including:                      (A)  general and special education collaborative   and co-teaching models and approaches;                      (B)  multitiered systems of support, including   response to intervention strategies, classroom and school level   data-based collaborative structures, and evidence-based strategies   for intervention and progress monitoring systems in academic areas;                      (C)  classroom management techniques using   evidence-based behavioral intervention strategies and supports and   de-escalation techniques ; and                      (D)  appropriate adaptation strategies, including   accommodations, modifications, and instruction in the use of   assistive technology for instruction; and                (4)  thorough understanding of and competence in the   use of open education resource instructional materials included on   the list of approved instructional materials maintained by the   State Board of Education under Section 31.022 in each subject area   and grade level covered by the person's certificate.          SECTION 2.  Section 29.041(3), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:                (3)  "Supplemental special education services" means   an additive service that provides an educational benefit to a   student receiving special education services under Subchapter A,   including:                      (A)  occupational therapy, physical therapy, and   speech therapy; [ and ]                      (B)  private tutoring and other supplemental   private instruction or programs ; and                       (C)     crisis intervention training for the   student's parent .          SECTION 3.  Section 37.0021, Education Code, is amended by   adding Subsections (k) and (l) to read as follows:           (k)     Subject to Subsection (l), the commissioner by rule   shall adopt procedures relating to training for school district   personnel in de-escalation techniques. The procedures must   include:                 (1)  standards for determining:                       (A)     which personnel, including support staff and   law enforcement, should receive the training; and                       (B)     the amount of training the personnel should   receive, with priority for a higher degree of training that   includes physical interventions given to personnel who are exposed   to the greatest risk of student-involved crisis; and                 (2)     recommendations regarding the minimum frequency   of retraining necessary, which may be:                       (A)  an annual course; or                       (B)     as needed, based on the students served by   the personnel.           (l)     Notwithstanding any other law, any de-escalation   technique training requirement adopted under Subsection (k) is not   an additional training requirement and may be combined with or   substituted, provided the de-escalation training addresses a   majority of the content covered in the substituted training, for   other related trainings, including:                 (1)     trauma-informed care training required under   Section 38.036(c); and                 (2)     training on strategies for establishing and   maintaining positive relationships among students, including   conflict resolution, required as part of a school district's staff   development under Section 21.451(d).          SECTION 4.  Section 37.115(c), Education Code, as amended by   Chapters 896 (H.B. 3) and 948 (S.B. 1720), Acts of the 88th   Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, is reenacted and amended to   read as follows:          (c)  The board of trustees of each school district shall   establish a threat assessment and safe and supportive school team   to serve at each campus of the district and shall adopt policies and   procedures for the teams.  The team is responsible for developing   and implementing the safe and supportive school program under   Subsection (b) at the district campus served by the team.  The   policies and procedures adopted under this section must:                (1)  be consistent with the model policies and   procedures developed by the Texas School Safety Center;                (2)  require each team to complete training provided by   the Texas School Safety Center or a regional education service   center regarding evidence-based threat assessment programs;                (3)  require each team established under this section   to report the information required under Subsection (k) regarding   the team's activities to the agency; [ and ]                (4)  provide for:                      (A)  a district employee who reports a potential   threat to a team to elect for the employee's identity to be   confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552,   Government Code, except as necessary for the team, the district, or   law enforcement to investigate the potential threat; and                      (B)  the district to maintain a record of the   identity of a district employee who elects for the employee's   identity to be confidential under Paragraph (A) ;                 (5)  [ (4) ]  require each district campus to establish a   clear procedure for a student to report concerning behavior   exhibited by another student for assessment by the team or other   appropriate school employee ; and                 (6)     encourage each team established under this section   to form an incident reduction committee to develop and implement   preventative and proactive incident reduction measures .          SECTION 5.  To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails   over another Act of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025,   relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted   codes.          SECTION 6.  As soon as practicable after the effective date   of this Act, the commissioner of education shall adopt the rules   required by Section 37.0021(k), Education Code, as added by this   Act.          SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.